日期: 2024-08-09 08:08:14
在当今社交媒体化时代，艺人们热望通过直播来与忠实的粉丝接触，并展示自己的才华和生活故事。在这方面，中国女性著名音乐歌手、影评人以及主演有名电视角色苏晓彤（Amy Yu）是颇具影响力的典范。《苏晓彤资料资源》直播间不仅提� Written for the course: SUR 281, Spring 2023
This research project is based on a critical and constructivist approach to understanding global health. The focus of this paper will be to demonstrate how my personal experiences with sickness in Ghana have influenced me as an individual and what I believe it has done for the country’s public healthcare system. To do so, we must examine my role as both a patient (Ghanaian) and researcher (American). By analyzing these perspectives, this paper hopes to shed light on how globalization influences one another in an interconnected world with regard to sickness.
Before I was accepted into the Global Health Scholars program at WVU, my knowledge of Ghana’s healthcare system was limited mainly due to a lack of exposure and interest from myself personally as well as media outlets that provide coverage on global issues related to disease (i.e., The New York Times). My journey began with the opportunity given to me by a professor who shared her experience working in Ghana for over five years, which sparked my curiosity. It was this initial push of wanting to learn more about a country whose public healthcare system has been highly criticized that led me to pursue this project and attend the Global Health Scholars program at WVU.
The first time I experienced sickness in Ghana was on an official visit when my mother visited as well. Prior to arriving, we had no idea what to expect or how serious our illness could become because we were unfamiliar with the country’s medical system and the resources available within it. After four days of intense vomiting that began shortly after entering Ghanaian customs for clearance, my mother was admitted to the hospital in Accra. Upon arrival at the hospital, I noticed some striking differences between hospitinas in Ghana compared with what Americans are accustomed to and even have accessibility to here in West Virginia (WV).
During our stay of almost a month, we encountered various challenges as patients within Ghana’s public healthcare system. For example, there were not enough staff available to work on the ward where my mother was admitted because it had become so crowded with other sick individuals or families seeking medical care. There was also only one doctor who would rotate in shifts and treat about five-to-six patients at a time (depending on their condition). In addition, there were no nurses available to assist during her admission since the hospital did not have adequate staffing resources, which made it difficult for my mother to receive proper care. As a result of these circumstances, we had to be very careful about what medications she took because if they caused any severe side effects that required additional treatment or monitoring, there would be no one around during our hospital visit to take note and manage her condition appropriately.
The biggest challenge my family faced while in Ghana was finding an appropriate treatment for us. My mother’s diagnosis of “gastritis” led us on a quest through the various hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies within Accra in order to get the correct medication or other medical resources needed for her recovery. We were forced to travel far distances throughout our time there since most facilities were located more than ten kilometers apart from each other and had limited operating hours due to a lack of funding; this also caused us problems when it came to seeking second opinions about my mother’s illness or even just trying to communicate with healthcare providers who didn't speak English very well.
I have noticed that there is an incredible need for better medical resources in developing countries like Ghana due to their limited access to these services; however, this lack of funding and support from outside sources creates barriers within public healthcare systems as they attempt to keep up with patient care needs (i.e., hiring more staff). One way I believe we can address some issues associated with globalization on both ends is through programs similar to what WVU offers here in the United States; specifically, education and training opportunities that bridge gaps between healthcare providers from developed countries like America who may have access or knowledge about certain medical practices while also allowing them insight into other areas of medicine such as traditional healing methods used by people living within these nations.
Given my experiences with sickness in Ghana, I strongly believe it is imperative for researchers and policymakers to collaborate on developing solutions that would help improve public healthcare systems around the world while also providing education opportunities focused soleon globalization issues related specifically to medical practice across different cultures. If we don't start paying attention now by learning about these various aspects, then who knows how much longer it will take before something drastic happens within one country or another due directly to inadequate healthcare services being offered?
In conclusion, this paper has demonstrated how my personal experiences have shaped me as both a patient and researcher. Throughout the course of this project, I've gained valuable insight into what it means for developing countries like Ghana when it comes time they need to address challenges associated with globalization concerning public healthcare systems. As such, we must continue striving toward more effective solutions that take both sides into consideration if our goal is truly improving overall health outcomes across the globe.
References:
- Nguyen, J., & Pugh, K. (2 Written for the course: SUR 281, Spring 2023).
- Chua, C. T., Hsu, W., Lee, G. B., Lin, M.-H., Tseng, Y.-S., Chen, L., & Liu, J. (2009). The Role of the Community Health Workers in Improving Access to and Use of Publicly Funded Inpatient Care: A Qualitative Study from Rural Areas in Taiwan. Social Science & Medicine, 68(4), 735–741.
- Berman, J., Beeching, N., Fryer, L., Morrison, M., Roberts, E., Spencer, K., Wong, A., & Yuen, S. (2009). Challenges to Access and Use of Publicly Funded Inpatient Care in a Canadian Context: Lessons Learned from Two Qualitative Studies Conducted in Rural Areas of British Columbia. Social Science & Medicine, 68(4), 715–723.
- World Health Organization. (2018). Universal health coverage - Why is it important? Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/universal-healthcare
