A little medical anecdote

So today's productivity was rather hampered by a certain almost three year old. She had "cough" so while her mom was working, I was the lucky one who was able to hang out with her - needless to say I'll be slamming some Vitamin C later. Well...as the day progressed she continued to feel worse and she developed a pretty gnarly little fever, so after lunch I took her to the lab to get tested for Malaria. (This is where the story gets "fun" for those of you who have yet to experience Uganda). This facility is not bad by Ugandan standards, but if I were able to post a picture for you to gander at, I have a feeling some of you (especially those of you in the medical profession) would cringe. You ask if they are able to test for Malaria - it depends on if they have power or not - and if it's a go, then you plop yourself on the bench and wait for the inevitable finger prick. When Aryanna saw the needle, she freaked out, but the lady was quick and it wasn't too bad. She put the sample on the little microscope slide and took a swab of cotton off a bunch she had on the table and wrapped the finger. We waited there while the technician's kids were sitting next to us (one of them also with "cough") playing around. About ten minutes later, she writes on the paper the results and we find out "the Malaria is there". So off we go to the pharmacy to get the Malaria meds, an antibiotic for the cough, as well as just some cough syrup. Walking into the pharmacy, you just tell them what you want, it reminds me of a gas station in the States, it's really rather freeing. They pack it up, you pay and you're on your way. All in all the whole thing was about $10, even adding in there some post-testing ice cream.