Page 42 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 27 Final
P. 42
Community
As I sought to uncover the to positive and healing
root causes of a concerning environments.
phenomenon, I dedicated This experience inspired
countless hours to observing me to take action by
patients and their daily cultivating human-
routines. I hoped to identify centered conversations
patterns that could shed with the visitors on the
light on the disparity. One importance of empathetic,
day, during visiting hours, positive, and supportive
I overheard conversations conversations with the
between patients and their patients. Additionally, I
visitors. I was dismayed to developed an intervention
hear visitors spend most of program that aimed to
their time complaining and promote constructive
criticizing patients, which dialogues in the ward,
can be detrimental to their intending to foster healthy
recovery efforts. Every relationships between the
visit is a stressful time for patients and their visitors.
patients, and stress can My ultimate goal was to
significantly slow down the enable the patients to heal
healing process, making in an environment that
it essential to manage was conducive to their what presented itself as
emotions constructively. recovery, and to enhance a source of stress for the
In contrast, female wards their chances of achieving rest to bounce their take.
prioritize empathy and functional relationships with The conversation that
sharing to meet each their loved ones. unfolded was nothing
other’s needs, which can short of powerful, as
positively impact recovery. Indeed, as my experience men courageously shared
During transitional periods, has shown, relationships their experiences with
many men may experience can play a pivotal role dysfunctions, relationship
feelings of worthlessness, in the recovery process, struggles, emotional pain,
hopelessness, lack of and when approached and hidden resentments.
peace, and a loss of appropriately, they can be It was clear that societal
masculinity. While visiting a vital ingredient in the pressures to prioritize
patients in hospitals, healing process. I came up success over emotional
we must recognize the with a plan where patients intelligence had taken a
impact of our words and shared their journeys to significant toll on their well-
behavior on patients and their current situation being, resulting in pent-
compassionately contribute and navigated through up anger and frustration.
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