From the outside this picture just represents a normal Cape Town sunset but if you look deeper it actually represents the fragmentation and how a patient is represented in the South African health system (SA health system.)
South African health system is vast and very ineffective when it comes to the different support systems needed for patients. In this simple picture of a sunset – Table Mountain represents the patient; isolated, alone and unable to move. The mountain is surrounded by the countless houses and endless skies. These houses and skies portrays the infinite neighboring of health members and sickness. Below the mountain, the houses and residential life is alive and goes on with life without the mountain or ‘patient’ which in due time effects emotionally and physically on the segregation of the patient. Like all skies it changes colours and patterns. These colours and patterns resembles sickness and whatever the patient may encounter in this health care system of South Africa.
A journal article interpreted by Bongani M. Mayosi and Solomon R. Benatar, about the health care system in South Africa. This journal article addresses the SA health systems challenges, as well as directly focuses on the burden of infectious and noncommunicable diseases that patients confronts every day in health care of South Africa. (Bongani M. Mayosi, M.C., 2014)
Another journal article which was analysed by Tollman and Kautsky, reviewing the SA health system. They reflected on how the SA health system is trying to improve but there are many achievements that remained fragmented and of limited impact which reflects on patients in the health system directly. They also realized that there is also a series of obstacles that continue to limit the full implementation of Primary Health Care in South Africa. These obstacles include insufficient basic sanitation, social circumstances inside the health care as well as in the communities in South Africa. (Tollman, 2008 ) As much as South Africa is trying to improve the health care, they also still need to look socially and emotionally at the patients in the hospitals or clinics, because even if the health care improves physically it wont improve emotionally resulting in the big image of ‘isolation’ within the patients.
Bongani M. Mayosi, M. C. (2014 ). Health and Health Care in South Africa — 20 Years after Mandela. Journal of medicine .
Tollman, K. K. (2008 ). South African Health Review – A perspective on Primary Health Care in South Africa. South African Health review african jorunal , 30 .
2 thoughts on “ISOLATION – POV of patient in South African health system (Micaela Alsemgeest 3867141)”
I like how you have illustrated the pasients in the SA Health system and how they can feel isolated. The text reflects the topic, and the Picture is related to the text. Well done!
I think you could have used Your Sources to an even greater extent. I would have liked to read more about which Challenges the Health system face and how this effects the pasients. Good work!
Hi Micaela,
Thank you for your reflection. I really like your creative and symbolic solution with this picture.
You show a critical view on the healthcare system and I think you present a very important topic, which in my opinion occurs in Norway as well.
I found it a little bit hard following you through the text at some points, I lost the topic “isolation” a bit when you started to introduce literature. May I suggest you add some examples related to the references? I think this would make it easier to follow your point. E.g. In what way do you think patients feel isolated? How do you think the SA healthcare system could prevent isolation?
You’re saying the healthcare system is trying to improve, and how there still are challenges and obstacles that limit this implementation. You make me curious about what kind of challenges they are facing. Have you considered presenting some examples here?
You present your references in correct format (I think you should add “2014” in your last reference in your essay?) and your use of references is strong. Your essay is also grammatically correct, as far as I can tell.
Overall; I really like the topic you chose writing about, I think isolation often is underestimated or forgotten. I also learned something about the SA healthcare system, and I would like to learn some more!
Well done. Keep up the good work!