Malaria in Makeni
Life is going well.
Last week was pure shit because I had malaria. Apparently, the malaria here is one of the worst because it’s cerebral. I had it for about a week before I went to doctor, then I got into a pissing match with the doctor because he wanted me to jump to the head of the line because I’m white. Stupid doctor.
The way it works here, is you register and pay your fee, then you sit around until a nurse takes your vitals, then you sit around until you see the doctor, who asks you what your symptoms are, then you wait around for a blood test, then you sit around until the doctor tell you whether you have malaria or typhoid. The doctor never exams you, the nurses don’t triage you, you just sit around and wait. But if you’re white you get to go the front of the line? Ugh. I have an overdeveloped sense of justice.
Last Thursday my friend KK made homemade pizza for us, and I had to sit and watch everyone eat because I couldn’t stomach food. Which sucks, because… pizza! I spent the weekend on ACT, which is a medication that kicked my pansy ass. I was laid out for three days. It took all my efforts to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom.
Sunday I went down to Freetown to meet with a doctor interested in our cancer control project. I don’t know why, but I was expecting a 50-year-old dude. Instead, I was flummoxed by a freaking hotty! Such a cutie little hipster boy, I had a hard time concentrating.
My room in Freetown had rats, so I didn’t sleep. My cell phone and thumb drive were stolen out of my room. Welcome to Sierra Leone. I've lost everyone's number so don't try to call me, and email me if you need me to have your phone number again.
When I got back to Makeni, I was so wiped out that I just zombie around the office. I stayed at KK’s, and he treated me to an awesome night of vegetable schwarmas, amarula, and oreo cookies. Last night I slept like the dead!
Now I feel amazing after a week of malaria and sleep deprivation, staying at KK’s was just what the doctor ordered.
Last week was pure shit because I had malaria. Apparently, the malaria here is one of the worst because it’s cerebral. I had it for about a week before I went to doctor, then I got into a pissing match with the doctor because he wanted me to jump to the head of the line because I’m white. Stupid doctor.
The way it works here, is you register and pay your fee, then you sit around until a nurse takes your vitals, then you sit around until you see the doctor, who asks you what your symptoms are, then you wait around for a blood test, then you sit around until the doctor tell you whether you have malaria or typhoid. The doctor never exams you, the nurses don’t triage you, you just sit around and wait. But if you’re white you get to go the front of the line? Ugh. I have an overdeveloped sense of justice.
Last Thursday my friend KK made homemade pizza for us, and I had to sit and watch everyone eat because I couldn’t stomach food. Which sucks, because… pizza! I spent the weekend on ACT, which is a medication that kicked my pansy ass. I was laid out for three days. It took all my efforts to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom.
Sunday I went down to Freetown to meet with a doctor interested in our cancer control project. I don’t know why, but I was expecting a 50-year-old dude. Instead, I was flummoxed by a freaking hotty! Such a cutie little hipster boy, I had a hard time concentrating.
My room in Freetown had rats, so I didn’t sleep. My cell phone and thumb drive were stolen out of my room. Welcome to Sierra Leone. I've lost everyone's number so don't try to call me, and email me if you need me to have your phone number again.
When I got back to Makeni, I was so wiped out that I just zombie around the office. I stayed at KK’s, and he treated me to an awesome night of vegetable schwarmas, amarula, and oreo cookies. Last night I slept like the dead!
Now I feel amazing after a week of malaria and sleep deprivation, staying at KK’s was just what the doctor ordered.