BEING IN KENYA WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. MY PROJECT WAS IN HEALTHCARE. I
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HEALTHCARE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, ESPECIALLY IN A
DIFFERENT GLOBAL CONTEXT LIKE KENYA.
I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A HOSPITAL AND BE INTRODUCED TO THE
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. DURING MY VISIT, I OBSERVED CHALLENGES LIKE OVERCROWDING
AND HEALTHCARE WORKER STRIKES, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACT PATIENTS AND THE
QUALITY OF CARE. I ALSO LEARNED ABOUT EFFORTS LIKE THE SOCIAL HEALTH
AUTHORITY, WHICH IS WORKING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
BUT WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME THE MOST WAS NOT JUST WHAT I SAW IN THE HOSPITAL,
IT WAS THE PEOPLE I MET.
SPENDING TIME WITH STUDENTS, HEARING ABOUT THEIR AMBITIONS AND DREAMS, AND
CONTINUING TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM MADE THE EXPERIENCE FEEL DEEPLY
PERSONAL. IT SHIFTED HOW I THINK ABOUT HEALTHCARE. I BEGAN TO SEE THAT IT
IS NOT JUST ABOUT SYSTEMS OR POLICIES, BUT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES.
THAT CONNECTION BECAME EVEN CLEARER WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT INITIATIVES LIKE
CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS. IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT HEALTH IS SHAPED LONG BEFORE
SOMEONE ENTERS A HOSPITAL. IT IS INFLUENCED BY EVERYDAY CONDITIONS, LIKE
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND THE ABILITY TO LIVE WITH
DIGNITY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, MY PROJECT BECAME MORE THAN JUST AN INTRODUCTION TO A
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. IT BECAME A WAY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW HEALTH EXISTS
WITHIN A BROADER SOCIAL CONTEXT.
OVERALL, THIS EXPERIENCE CHANGED HOW I UNDERSTAND HEALTH. HEALTH IS ABOUT
PEOPLE, COMMUNITY, AND THE CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE WITH
DIGNITY AND JOY. AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL CARRY WITH ME MOVING FORWARD.
