Health Care at the Border: A first-hand look
Recently the news reported of a 7-year-old immigrant who died in a New Mexico hospital from dehydration. The president speaks of the train of migrants and continues to call for the border wall and Congress figures out how to respond. My sister Irene is a family doctor who works in a clinic in San Diego. She also boards a horse near the California/Mexico border which is more or less defined by the Tijuana River. I asked her for an update.
First the patrols. From the horse’s pen, one can see the housing developments in the Tijuana hills. The Border Patrol Station is next to the ranch, a bit further down the gravel road, which was just recently paved. A year ago it was a peaceful spot during these December nights, the stars studded points of light in the black sky, and a helicopter rarely flew over with a search light. Now all of that has changed. Last eve, helicopters whirred over every three minutes with search lights scanning the flood plains. Bright lights lit up the wall were it meets the ocean near Imperial Beach. PHOTO Border Patrol trucks and ATVs with BP logos barreled down the road frequently now; the horses have grown used to it. During daylight hours, Irene rides trails in the fields of the flood plain. In the past they encountered an occasional BP ATVs on the trails, now they encounter them routinely. So much for peace and quiet after a busy day in the clinic!
Health Care. Irene and her colleagues were tapped to provide medical care to the “migrant caravan.” Irene worked in one the clinic’s mobile units (RV size) which has an Electronic Health Record and two exam rooms.It is now parked behind one of the homeless shelter. Once cleared for asylum, ICE drops off immigrants at random locations. Several volunteer organizations have made it a priority to pick immigrants up and bring them to homeless shelters so adults and children can regroup and plan their next steps. Currently two homeless shelters in San Diego accept immigrants, and folks move between them because neighbors get upset, one being located near military housing. All adult immigrants must wear an ankle bracelet that includes a monitor the size of an old black cellphones—big and cumbersome. Thankfully kids don’t need to wear the bracelets. PHOTO Most families eventually travel by bus or plane to family or friends somewhere in the US. Volunteers hand out coats, mittens and gloves to people who had limited experience with winter. One translator instructed “Dress like an onion.Where you are going is cold. You can peel off layers if you are too warm.”
Irene described two fathers with young daughters (5 year and 10) who had been separated from their wives and other children. “They were so worried about their kids and grateful for our help. They had been through so much. Several of the men had old machete scars that I noticed when I listened to their heart and lungs.” Irene flashed back to her time in Honduras as a medical student with Shoulder to Shoulder, when she sewed up patients with machete wounds. “Anyone with lice has Vaseline slathered in their hair and receive shower caps. I was particularly worried about a 3-year-old with fever, ear infections and diarrhea. I started her on antibiotics. She didn’t want anything to do with the stuffed animal, a monkey with a banana, a staff member offered. I went back to check on her the next day. She was much better and her father was so relieved. I brought an Olaf toy with me. The child grabbed and hugged it as a huge smile flashed across her Face. I think she recognized the Disney character.”
Irene’s family physician colleague, Dr. Brendan, crossed the border and provided care in a tent city of 3000 set up in a Tijuana sports field. Brendan speaks Spanish and he talked with kids who lost their families,swam rivers and were gassed by the military in Mexico. Angry locals pelted them with rocks as they walked through the streets. The border patrol shot at them with rubber bullets. PHOTO Brendan posted on facebook after his visit and made this plea: “We can debate how to handle the situation, but please drop the hateful speech and sensationalist rhetoric. These are suffering human beings who abandon their lives to find hope and a better life for their children.”
As we come to the time of year where we celebrate the coming of the light, and spend more time with family and friends, let us remember that we are a country of immigrants. The Natives who shared their land with many of our ancestors were for the most part more welcoming than we are today. While open borders are not the answer, neither is a $5 billion wall.
May we encourage our legislators to find a saner solutions.
May we do what we can, wherever we are to be compassionate to those who are different from us. I have learned from my travels, that people everywhere are not so different from each other. We all want to be loved, and have a safe place to live and raise our families.