Arraijan

Today was our first day in the Arraijan clinic here in Panama. When we first arrived we were taken to the director of the hospitals office where he welcomed us to the hospital and the city. Next we were given a tour of the facility. There were so many people there, you could barely move through the hallways. It seemed like every where you turned there was a lobby of some sort with tons of people piled in. Some of us were then split up and placed with nurses throughout the facility. I was sent to observe the maternal/women’s health nurse. Her office was very tiny with one exam room in the back. Each patient was brought in one at a time. I assisted with vitals and communicated the best I could with the patients. Most of out patients today received Pap Smears. I was able to assist with 4 Pap smears; it was really a great experience. (Especially since my clinicals are at the VA, it was nice to have a female patient for a change) Next we took a tour of Arraijan city. It was a big eye opener to see the way people live here. Before we had mainly seen the nicer areas of Panama, and this was nothing like we have seen before. Many do not have running water and have buckets outside their houses that they use to catch the rain water. They will then use this rain water to clean with. The houses were very run down and there was a lot of trash in the streets. We were able to visit a school during the tour. The kids were so excited to see us; they all wanted to have their picture taken. They would swarm us (knock some of us down actually) and gives us hugs. It made me realize how many of us are so unhappy and we have a lot, compared to those children who have so little but are full of such happiness. Today’s experience was a real eye opener and one that I will not forget.

-Erin Smith