Ryan's Blog

Over the last few weeks I've been knocking doors in Saskatoon Sutherland, getting to know NDP members and constituents. The reception thus far has been extremely positive.

Last night our friend Felicidade came to see us at the training centre. Felicidade, which means Happiness, is 12, bright, articulate, with a surprisingly adult way of expressing herself. Last weekend, when the thunder and heavy rains came, the house where she lives with her grandmother leaked so badly that it filled with dirty water.

This last week we were on call. With all of the doctors away at an annual meeting in the provincial capital of Inhambane, Mahli and I found ourselves the only physicians for 230,000 people. Imagine one family doctor and one pediatric resident on call for a district with the population of Saskatoon!

"Income is perhaps the most important social determinant of health. Level of income shapes overall living conditions, affects psychological functioning, and influences health-related behaviours such as quality of diet, extent of physical activity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use." - Social Determinants of Health- The Canadian Facts, Raphael and Mikkonen, 2010

"Income is perhaps the most important social determinant of health. Level of income shapes overall living conditions, affects psychological functioning, and influences health-related behaviours such as quality of diet, extent of physical activity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use." - Social Determinants of Health- The Canadian Facts, Raphael and Mikkonen, 2010

The road to Tevele is red sand and sloppy on this rainy morning. The rains have come early this year, and though abundant are not entirely welcome as they interfere with beans ready for harvest. We bounce in and out of ruts as we head thirty-some kilometres to this out-of-the-way rural community, located between the ocean and the national highway.

Massinga Rural Hospital is located across a sandy road from the Massinga Centre for Continuing Education. It consists of a collection of one-story buildings around a central courtyard dominated by an acacia tree recently split by lightning. The courtyard is home to waiting patients, visiting families, and alternately (on a schedule I've yet to understand) either pigs, ducks or turkeys.

Returning to Mozambique, a place I have lived, loved and left, is a strange thing. I spent months here, knew it well. I came first as a student, later a a resident, a doctor, a teacher. I have seen it change and I too have changed. Yet no matter how connected I feel when i'm here, how hard I try to keep in touch, upon returning home the channel changes.

Making The Links is a program of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Each year 6 medical students are selected to spend 6 weeks in Northern Saskatchewan (Ile a-la-Crosse or Buffalo River Dene Nation), work at SWITCH, Saskatoon's interdisciplinary student-run clinic, and spend 6 weeks in Massinga, rural Mozambique.

Welcome to the new ryanmeili.ca

You'll notice a few changes. Despite my objections, the second hand prairie sweater has been replaced by a suit and tie. And along with the look the focus has changed.