As we all know by now Karen Glucksberg was, to put it bluntly, summarily fired this past month. You can talk in formalities all you want, about nonrenewal of contracts, but she was out and out fired. And for what?
I was at one of the supposedly many VAC meetings where she was discussed and the most resounding complaint was about her bedside manner. Say what? That’s really anyone’s concern here? Is it just me or is it not abundantly clear that in an environment like Uganda, where exigent and extenuating circumstances are the norm, the last thing anyone should ever expect from an urgent care provider is politesse? I ask you what’s more important: that your explosive diarrhea is brought under control or that you’re made to feel better, emotionally, about said explosive diarrhea? Apparently at other meetings there were also complaints about her negligence in returning calls, and inhospitality at the office.
Again I say: do you realize where we are?
Firstly, we have a direct line to a highly trained and capable medical staff 24 HOURS A DAY. That, in and of itself, merits consideration: what’s the value of a service like that? To put it into perspective think about how much attention (10-20 minute chat?) you get from a health professional in America, how long it usually takes to get it (appointments, delays, cancellations, waiting rooms), and how much you (or your health insurance company) pay for it. I’m not trying to make this about numbers but just put in terms that make comparison easy. Hell if your explosive diarrhea is of nuclear grade they, medical, will organize the means and manpower to chauffer your disgusting, literally, ass to Kampala. Suffice it to say, in my oh-so humble opinion, we get an incredible amount of value for our dollar, with respect to health services rendered.
Secondly, and more importantly, what kind of self-respecting-tree-hugging-for-the-betterment-of-the-world-luxury-sacrificing-out-of-the-generosity-of-their-bleeding-heart2 volunteer doesn’t have a little empathy and compassion for someone on their own team of do-gooders? Karen is/was one of us. In form and in function: she made the same sacrifice3 in coming here as we did, probably had similar reasons even, and by keeping us healthy is/was doing development work. We all should have cut her more slack. In fact we should have cut her infinite slack since, as far as I know, no one is dying or has died on her watch, which is the only measure of a health professional as far I’m concerned (kind of like how the only measure of a pilot is whether they land the plane). You do realize that the entire medical staff, of which Karen is/was an integral part, almost quite literally change our diapers? Just put yourself in her shoes (this is that empathy thing I was talking about) and imagine for a second how you would feel if day-in day-out you were shoveling (there are ~150 of us after all so ‘shovel’ is probably appropriate) the shit of a group of ungrateful (since apparently we’ve been complaining about her at every VAC meeting) irresponsible (ask yourself: have you gone rafting? do you bleach all of your food? do you boil and treat all of your water? do you eat anything and everything on a stick?), know-it-all4 20-somethings (on average).
And let me pre-empt all of you fascists who say that it’s acceptable to expect her, Karen, to behave a certain way because it’s in her job description: you’re a fascist. I mean that whole-heartedly and sincerely. If you refuse to see the fleshly and bloody being beneath the job title, with concomitant problems, misgivings, insecurities, stressors of their own, and refuse to concede that that is not only to be expected but completely okay (this is that compassion thing I was talking about), well then you’re a great fit for the Marine Corps not the Peace Corps. Incidentally there was an article written by Ashley Dunn in one of the previous ‘61s that had a list of Don’ts that said something like “don’t worry about things taking too long because in Africa goals take an order of magnitude longer to accomplish”. As I read that I’m pretty sure I heard a collective “amen” from all the volunteers around the country (weird that we were all reading it at the same time…) because it reaffirmed, and legitimized, what we all feel about how difficult it is to be efficacious here. Now don’t you think that Karen’s efforts are/were subject to the same mitigating forces?
Seriously guys/girls: infinite slack.
The last thing any one of us should have to worry about is offending another one of us with some offhand comment made under stress. I’m not saying abide assholes but I am saying being a little more patient. Especially with people who have to struggle to take care of themselves (everyone here) but then also have enough psychic reserves to be concerned with, for all intents and purposes, our wellbeing and homeostasis.
So here’s to you Karen. Thanks for putting up with my shit (figuratively and literally). Thanks for not pussyfooting around when I was dumb enough to accidently breed mosquito larvae in my drinking water. Thanks for gingerly shepherding me to The Surgery when I had Dengue5 fever during training. I hope your next ward appreciates you more.
1. I know this isn’t actually an ode duh.
2. Sorry I’ve been reading Infinite Jest (good book btw).
3. Don’t give me that shit that she lives/lived in Kampala and therefore she has/had it loads better. Kampala is a shit hole and further consider the salary (RN with how many decades of experience?) she forfeited in coming here. Even further don’t give me that “she chose to come here” bit. So did you so what’s your point?
4. During that VAC meeting I was in someone complained that maybe medical wasn’t referring to The Surgery often enough. Essentially questioning their medical expertise. Are you fucking high? As far as I know there aren’t any M.D.s in PC-UG so at best (if you’re an RN) your evaluation is just as credible as theirs and at worst you’re a know-it-all 20-something.
5. Not really, just suspected.
