Update

The experience I had when I worked in HIV/AIDS counseling was amazing! Because of the amazing experience, I decided to devote the rest of my time at the clinic in working in the general consultation department, the gateway for all ailments, the HIV/AIDS department, and the laboratory. I decided to do this as I thought my worm project would work well in these three areas, and it DID!!! I did receive confirmation of my IRB approval, and began to implement my project. I will outline the particular specifics during the write up of my research. In general, I continued my expected duties in all areas (such as counseling patients, administering tests, taking blood pressure), and implemented my prevention project on site with children and also the adults of children, as it was not possible to use local contact information such as an address and phone number. I was allowed to talk to patients and hold my class on site using a number of resources such as research sheets I created and models.

In the laboratory I was able to follow many of my subjects from the initial consultation to laboratory confirmation of an intestinal parasite.

In the HIV/AIDS department, the same process was used, and the prevention efforts were done during these counseling sessions, and especially emphasized if a person was found to be seropositive.

I had an added bonus to my work while working with HIV/AIDS. I instituted the use of pictoral information to help clarify to patients what exactly was an STD such as chlamydia as many patients were very unclear, and often confused another reproductive condition such as a urinary tract infection with an STI such as gonorrhea. The clinic liked this resource, and will continue to use it!!!!

This week I am preparing to return home and attempt to reassimilate myself well into American culture. I will finish up my work at the clinic, and will have debreifing session with the director this week. He has already infomed me he would like for me to write a report of my work here also since it is a government funded clinic, and they are especially interested in a foreign critique.

Update

This week has been gone by quickly. This week I worked in maternity, and I must say that it was an INTENSE experience. I worked with various patients in services including family planning, prenatal care, and post natal care.

I attended a church this week with a friend from the clinic, and the experience was absolutely amazing.

Last week the electricity went out almost everyday, thus impeding a lot of my revision process. This week I will finalize my IRB proposal, and finish my last set of clinical rotations in the HIV/AIDS testing and laboratory work. After this week, I will choose an area of service in which to implement my project.

New Clinic, New Research Plan, New Experiences

I travelled to northern Togo with Charlie and a few other students that are in Togo also. It is a very mountainous area. The people are incredibly congenial (they were always offering us beer!), and the experience living with no electricity and no toilets for a few days was, well, enlightening.

I met with the Director General of Health of Togo! He welcomed me, and approved of my research.

My project is taking somewhat of a new direction. My clinic location has changed from Aides Medicales Charite to Centre Medico Sociale d'Adidogome. It is a comprehensive clinic located in the quartier of Adidogome. The clinic offers services such as vaccinations, general health care, labor and delivery, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, physical therapy, and child welfare. It also

has a laboratory on site. Each week for the rest of this month I will work in a different area garnering a full assessment of the clinic and its needs. After my assessment, I will then decide in which area I will want to implement my modified research plan. This week I worked in the vaccinations department. I learned a lot about the types of vaccinations given, vaccination initiatives present in the area, and protocols.

I have settled in very well with my host family! We are having a blast, especially me and my new «boyfriend »----the new baby!

This week I plan to move to the labor and delivery section as I continue to modify my research plan!

Arrival

June 1, 2008 --

I have arrived in Lome,Togo, and I am doing well!

I have done a number of activities such as eat some traditional foods and attend some traditional ceremonies. The French here is so heavy, it is difficult for me to send you this email in English as I have the urge to always speak, read, write, and think in French!

I am spending my time mainly revising my pre-research protocol and becoming more acquainted with the city.

I did have an unfortunate incident in Casablanca where some of my money was stolen, and I am trying to get some more from my parents. I was not hurt, but it is a huge inconvenience.