來到暹粒第三個星期了，透過生活空間的轉換，好像逐漸找回了自己消失很久的感受力，有些過去心中的疑問好像也在這邊得到一些解答。

像是這次協會的義診活動，過去只有稍微看過網路上的文章，實際狀況實在沒有機會深入認識，經過這次的參與，重重的提醒自己「接收的所有資訊，如果沒有實際認識、了解都只能參考不能當真。」且在參考之後，一定要用自己的腦袋去持續思考。

為什麼會這樣說，先前在網路上讀的資訊，大部分都是認為義診造成的傷害大於實際服務，曾讀到文章上說：國際醫療志工在離開後，手術過後的感染率高達20％，要重新開刀的比率高達30％。過去因為這句話，我對義診總抱持著一種疑惑的態度，為什麼造成的實際風險大於服務，還是要做呢?

後來問了實習督導一些我的困惑點，才慢慢地清楚協會在村落設立園區辦公室的其中一個原因，就是要告訴當地人，只要是我們的活動你們不用擔心後續有問題會找不到人，協會就是設立在這裡，隨時解決、負責。

而且協會的義診治療內容也是仔細評估過，過度的手術絕不接受，只接受最基本的檢查、治療，如果真的嚴重的，再評估是不是協助去其他地方就醫，而不是當下治療但後續產生無法負責的結果。

即使文章用數據告訴我們，義診害居民感染的機率很高，我們還是可以想辦法堅持讓義診團的感染率不要發生。

文章也提及許多的醫療人員、志工多數只來一次就不來(因為環境不同等問題)，這的確也會發生，但其實還是有很多真心在享受義診這件事情的醫療人員、志工，這些人當中也有人是真的持續參與!

而且其實最終也要回歸服務計畫初衷，在一個固定的區域，紮實、持續的做，目的即是希望這個村落的人民們可以在小病的狀況下就有就醫的機會，不用拖到很嚴重無法治療的地步。

這是那些文章中沒有提及的部分，所以會很容易讓不了解這項服務內容的人有錯誤的解讀。

這次的義診參與，提醒了自己不要再當只透過片面訊息就輕易以為看見事情全貌的人。

到海外找回自己的感受力，我很享受、非常享受這個用力感受生活的自己!

 

I have already stayed in Siem Reap for three weeks. Since I left my home, I feel as though my horizons have widened and a feeling I thought had disappeared for a long time has reignited. Something I didn’t understand before, has now become a lot clearer.

I was lucky to join the Medical Misson this time. I had only read a few articles on the Internet about the Medical Mission activities. But I didn’t actually have the opportunity to understand it more. Through this experience and everything that I learned, the most important thing was “You can’t judge anything if you haven’t tried to understand it.”

Why I said that? The information I read on the Internet about the Medical Missions suggested that there was more harm than actual service to the patients. I read something like, “After the volunteers of the medical mission leave. The infection rate of the patients who had surgery is 20-30% and they often need to have surgery again.” After reading this, I held a doubtful attitude towards the Medical Mission. I couldn’t really understand why the risk was bigger than the service.
During the Medical Mission, I asked the Assistant director of my internship a lot of questions. By asking these questions, I began to better understand why they was a branch office located in the village. The organization aims to inform local citizens that they are always there for them. As long as they participated in the activities of the organization then they didn’t have to worry about any problems.

The organization also discusses what kinds of treatments are provided in the Medical Mission. Excessive surgeries aren’t conducted but basic treatment and examinations are. If the problem is too serious to treat then the assessment will be passed onto more capable and reliable medical institutions, instead of having a treatment with an outcome that they couldn’t be responsible for.

The article also mentions that a lot of medical personnel and volunteers only participate local service once (because of different issues, e.g. environmental… etc.) This does happen, but there are still many medical personnel and volunteers that really enjoy the Medical Mission. Some of these people are really involved!

Even if the article used the figures to tell us that the Medical Mission has a high infection rate. We still can find other ways to adhere to make the infection rate lower. We can’t forget the original intention of the service program which was to “Ensure the patients in the village have the opportunity to medical professionals when they have the need,” and thus keep the program running. The article didn’t mention this, so some people who don’t understand the Medical Mission would have a misunderstanding for this service program.

After joining this Medical Mission, I reminded myself that I couldn’t possibly understand the entire program by looking at a few sources of information. During these three weeks, I grew attached to my life overseas and really enjoyed the feeling.