Environmental Pollution

I choose environmental pollution.  I chose this because my husband’s cousin was lead poisioned when he was 2 years old.  He was developing as a normal 2 year old until this occurred.  This occurred when they were living in a private house and the pipes were very old.  This private house was very old and was filled with lead.  Later, they would be told to leave this residence as it would be condemned.   The lead in the pipes had contaminated the water.  He had initially gone into shock and would have seizures. Because of this tragic event he was given SSI until his 18^th birthday.  He was placed in special education because his learning ability was affected.  This is a link where you can read about how to prevent lead poisoning. 

 http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips.htm 

Pollution in Afghanistan - Air pollution

Air pollution in Kabul is severe.  Here people use lead gasoline, not unleaded like we use here in the states.  People burn tires to get warm and air pollution is rampant.  Here is a link to learn more about this issue.    

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99127084 

Health Issue - Clean Drinking Water

I chose clean drinking water because clean water is a necessity for health.  When I lived in Dominica, West Indies, getting clean water was sometimes a problem especially during the rainy season.  I thank God that on campus we had water fountains that contained clean filtered water.  My husband and I would fill 3 gallon jugs from the campus water and carry them home.  I know the poorer locals didn't have access to clean water and at times my neighbor with young children would ask us to get water for her.  Some households had regular plumbing while others had to pump water from a well.  Some small towns would use the river to clean, bathe, and drink.  Their government was working on ways to obtain clean water for their people.

I chose to focus on the health issue of clean drinking water in Afghanistan.  This part of the world is of particular interest to me.  My heart goes out to the women and children who suffer at the hands of corrupt leaders - both political and religous.

 I can say that these issues will affect my future work because I will be sensitive to the needs of these people.  



Children in Afghanistan trying to pump water from a well.

Clean, safe drinking water is a basic right. A right which over 1.2 billion people

around the world are denied. A lack of clean water affects sanitation, health, food

supplies and preparation and economic development.

Afghanistan has a population of 22 million people, 70% of which is undernourished and

one in four children die before the age of five.  Only 13% of people have access to improved

water sources and the situation has worsened due to inadequate rainfall over the last two

years causing the government to declare 12 districts drought-affected.

http://www.actionaid.org.uk/_content/documents/AFGHANISTAN.pdf 

Afghanistan - The Toughest Battle - Health - 15 May 07

This video speaks for itself.  Isn't it heartbreaking to know that in Afghanistan a woman dies in childbirth every 28 minutes.  There is nothing in the clinic to help a woman if complications arise.  There are no anesthetics, no operating room, no doctors, and only untrained nurses in the small province in the video.

 http://youtu.be/UK5eBihr0OI

My Personal Birth Experience

I have been married to my husband since 2000.  But I didn't have my daughter until 2009.  My husband and I tried for awhile to conceive but were unable to do so naturally so with medication we tried to increase my chances but were unsuccessful.  I was under the vigilant care of a reproductive endocrinologist and my gyn.  When I finally reduced my stressors I wound up pregnant.  I had a relatively easy pregnancy until the last trimester.  My daughter's heartbeat was becoming more and more difficult to detect.  Sonograms showed all was well so any fears were eased.  When my daughters due date came and went we opted to induce my labor.  Unfortunately, the pitocin I was being administered was making my daughter's heart rate drop.  So emergency C-section it was.  I was heartbroken because that was not how I had imagined my birth experience to be like.  Since we had to do what was best we went into surgery.  Was I glad I was in a great hospital, with an expert doctor, and attentive nurses.  My C-section was uneventful and I recovered fairly well and have a beautiful little girl.