The girl in the blue dress.
As I left medical school to head to my room at main campus yesterday, approaching the main intersection in Wandegeya, I noticed a girl (probably around 15 years old) walking aimlessly, in the middle of the road with no concern for the afternoon rush hour. On close examination, I realized that her lower lip was literally split into two with all kinds of body fluids spilling from the injury. Her face and arms had scrapes and she was covered in dirt. Based on her appearance, I assumed she must have been in a road traffic accident. Sadly, she was also barefooted and walking down Bombo road with a long blue dress.
As she approached the side of the road I was on, her eyes met mine. For that moment in time, I was able to see the sadness and desperation in the girl's eyes. Its like time stopped for just a moment to allow me to empathize of how poverty can affect ones life. Through her eyes I could see the great cry for help. She was saying "help me, help me, take me out of my misery", but no one was listening. Yet, for some reason, I could do nothing, nor say anything. I was in utter shock. It was like I was in some sort of immovable trance. I kept thinking to myself that I should be giving first aid to this girl, maybe refer her to Mulago, or at least assist her to seek medical attention, but my mouth could not open. Why didn't i do anything? Was I being selfish? Proud? I am a medical student trying to become a doctor and therefore I should have had some sort of compassion for the girl to at least help her. But I didn't! Maybe its because I feared the possible transmission of blood borne infections and therefore I didn’t want to touch her without any medical gear. Or, maybe its because I have become so used to the sight of poverty that I have learned to numb myself when I see a disadvantage person on the street.
After our eyes parted, as I crossed the street to get on the opposite side of Bombo road, I could still see the girl walking through the traffic along the other side of Bombo road. Though she was walking against traffic, and would literally walk towards a vehicle, no person or vehicle inquired about the state of this girl. Vehicles kept maneuvering around her so that they could avoid hitting her. Pedestrians continued to walk and seemed occupied with getting home to prepare for dinner. It seemed as though no one noticed this girl except me! Why were people ignoring her plea for help?
Who was this girl? Did she have a family? What had happened to her? How did she reach to such a state of mind that she didn't care if she was walking through traffic? These questions kept going through my head as I left Bombo road to enter the warm comforts of my room.
Coming to Uganda has given me an inside look of poverty and the consequences it creates. One such consequence of poverty is apathy. The experience of seeing that girl, and looking into her eyes, prompted me to re-evaluate myself and to determine whether or not apathy had entered my personality. There must have been close to 200 people in the busy intersection looking at the same girl in the blue dress. Yet no one...I mean no one...showed any interest in helping out that girl! Why didn't I do anything? Still rings in my head! I should of done something! I'm in medicine for goodness sake! Yet I did nothing except stare and look at the girl with sadness like everyone else.
But to defend my behavior, I wanted to do something but I just didn't know how! I do care about the homeless and sick and helping the poor; that is why I am in medicine! I don't want to think that apathy has got a hold on me. While living in Toronto, for most of my life, I was involved in many programs and initiatives that sought to aid the poor.
However, here in Kampala I have not encountered such programs and initiatives that I can be a part of. There are just too many people on the streets and too many people who don't care about them! I guess I just have to try to find some way in which I can be more proactive in helping out the less fortunate so that I do not fall victim to apathy.
I would like to think that next time, when I see a girl in a blue dress, I can help her. Allah only knows!
posted by Ramullah @ 3:07 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Hey Ramla,you did something, you sympathized...it moved u to see the girl in such a state. In that shock,silence,awe, u reached out to her in the loudest way any 1 could without making any sound. I'm sure that silent cry goes on thru many ppl's minds but like you, they don't or can't act. What has been awakened in you u shldnt lose. many ppl do medicine but with a stronger sense of hunger for money than mercy.... remember this always it is a start to a better outlook to justice. Just for nxt time.. incase it happens again and you happen to exchange looks,smile.. & maybe say a silent prayer for the person(I usually do this). That smile is the best first aid you can give someone coz it not only speaks on you ur face...it speaks to both ur hearts. The prayer is the balm that you entrust to a being that is more Supreme... God; coz He knows just where to apply it.Keep smiling and keep writing. (this is for ur eyes only.....nah,I'll tell u when I see u...remind me.) Cat
You should have done something. If you can walk away from a scene like that, you really have to think deeply about what kind of doctor you will end up being.
Compassion is all well and good, and it is true that you can't solve all the world's problems at a go. However, you could at least have got the kid out of the road, instead of just heading to the nearest cafe to blog about your heart-wrenching experience. As a med student, you were best qualified to sort out the first aid for the kid. You would have gone home feeling a lot better after that. You can only change the world one person, day and circumstance at a time. You missed that chance, go out and seize another, woman!
this is very heart rending.
problem is most ugandans do not know that they can do something to improve our condition.
this is very heart rending.
problem is most ugandans do not know that they can do something to improve our condition.
You acted on instinct and this time, your action was choosing to carry on. Everything happens for a reason. When you consider the "what if's" you only undermine your confidence and your faith.
You won't forget her face, and when you think of it, let that help you to give strength to keep studying and to keep on the search. Maybe you are the initiative ?
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