Life in South Africa

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I went on a student medical mission to South Africa a few years ago. It had a profound effect on me. Not only did it open my eyes to health problems in Africa and here at home, but also to life issues and social happenings. For one, in South Africa they seem to have a sliding scale for hospitals and insurance. I visited some state of the art hospitals that have developed new heart transplant techniques and are coming out with some of the greatest new medical technologies. These were the same hospitals that were pristene and looked like hotels inside. On the other end of the spectrum, I visited hospitals that were dumpy - dirty, no air circulation. Doctors there were even getting sick due to the poor working conditions. These were the places that those with no health insurance or those who were poor went to. It was sad. It seems as if there should be some sort of standard for healthcare facilities. Maybe it should be worldwide... what do you think? I would be worried if something happened to me or anyone I know, you wouldn't know anything about the state of the health care facility you would be taken to. I've heard horror stories about people having to go to hospitals in other countries. Are they liable? Furthermore, the sliding scale of health care forced me to notice the racial divide. If I remember my history correctly, the US ended segregation (or supposedly ended segregation) in the 50s. South Africa had Apartheid which ended in the 80s. To me, it seemed that although there was still tension between the races, South Africa had come so much further than we had in such a short time. Why is that? Why was it so difficult for us in the US to have equal rights? I know S. Africa still has a long way to go, bot they have also come so far compared to us. Has anyone else had the opportunity to visit and spend time in S. Africa... time to get a glimpse at everyday life? I was on a whirlwind trip, so maybe I didn't get the right perspective. It would be nice to hear what others have experienced there.