Mid Service Medical

So this week I am in Accra for my mid service medical check up. Before I got here I had heard mixed things about what to expect. Everything from "you are just going to Accra to get you out of your site" to "you will just have to do 3 MIF tests and a Pap test". In all honesty I thought that it would be a waste of my time if that is all that this was going to be, then I read through the questionnaire.

The PC asks you an extensive amount of questions about your health while you have been at site and then from how you answer those questions they determine what medical tests they need to run or what other doctors you will need to see. There are standard tests that all volunteers are required to have done and then PC determines any additional appointments by how you fill out the questionnaire. Considering that the federal government is responsible for my health care while I am here and for any medical condition that I might get from being here I want to make sure that my medical records are accurate just in case something happens. It is always better to be safe than sorry, or as my mother says "document, document, document." If you tell them and they write it down, no one can come back later and say that they did not know.

So based the standard PC requirements and on how I answered my questions I had to go to the dentist this week, see the dermatologist, the GYN and an ENT.

Let's start with the dentist. As most of you know I hate going to the dentist. It has nothing to do with the profession or the dentists that I have seen in the past I just don't like to go. Because of my fear of the dentist I was dreading going to the dentist here. I am happy to report that getting my teeth cleaned in Ghana was one of the better dental experiences of my life. There was no pain, she was gentle and did not lecture me about flossing.

Then came the dermatologist. She completely looked at my skin to make sure there were no spots and of course gave me the same lecture that my derm at home would, wear sunscreen at all times.

Next came the ENT, aka the ear doctor. I had to see him because I feel like I am having a hard time hearing people and I can't hear on my cell phone without my earphones. I think it is because it is so loud here but I just wanted to make sure that there was no major problem. I went to the military hospital today to see the doctor and he was very nice and knowledgeable. He did a few tests and I get to go have a complete hearing test on Friday. He is not sure what it is but does not think it is anything major.

The last was the trip to the GYN. This was nothing big, all women have to go and she was a very nice German doctor who made me laugh during the procedure. Something I did not think was possible.

The week has been a round of doctors visits and it makes me feel like I am back at home. I can now understand why some volunteers say that coming to Accra for their mid service medical is a waste of time, I think that they have missed an opportunity to have their concerns addressed.