Weeding through the conspiracies.

Well, hi! If you told me in February I would be back from Liberia, in Boston, working at home while SARS-COV2 wreaks havoc around the globe, I would have given you major side eyes, but here we are. I’ve been working from home about 6 weeks now, mostly doing some data entry with a little bit of analytics thrown in, and a lot of wondering what the future will be like, not just for myself but anyone working in global health and international development.

While I hate that the pandemic pulled me from my field site early, where I was just getting comfortable and learning so much from my patients and colleagues, the switch up of big countries like the U.S. fumbling through the realities of this pandemic while places like Liberia hit the ground running, years of experience with the Ebola epidemic in tow, has been an interesting and refreshing change in the narrative. Not that anyone has the perfect response down (I’m convinced we won’t know what that looks like without some degree of hindsight and reflection,) but it was about time for Westerners to eat some humble pie and realize we have as much to learn from our partners in underserved parts of the world as we do to offer.

There is a lot that is bad about this pandemic (hi, stating the obvious here!) From the little things like not knowing when we’ll be able to hug our loved ones, to the big things like the much worse impact on black communities and the poor, to the plain and simple fact that this virus has killed more a quarter of a million people (see WHO’s latest situation report for more alarming numbers.)

But to me one of the scariest aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic is the misinformation circulating online. Maybe not even the misinformation itself, but the sheer speed at which the conspiracy theories, pseudo-truths and totally false allegations have made their way to social media. Even as patients died gasping for air in overcrowded hospitals in Queens, Facebook experts were calling into question the gravity of the situation, incorrectly crunching mortality rates then spreading the information like wildfire to their social media followers. Information comes out so quickly that it must be extremely difficult as a lay person to know what is and isn’t reliable information. I really do feel for the public on this one, especially those without a background in medicine and research.

Things reached a head late this week with the plandemic video. I was planning to ignore it until it started circulating in a private email chain with family members in the medical field, some of who decided to partially defend the video in the name of censorship and the right to free speech. Americans have always embraced our rights to do and say what we want, when we want, often to a fault (see: vaccinal refusal, or the shooting of a black man going for a jog by armed civilians.) We fight for the right to say and do what we feel is best without government interference (if you’re the right kind of citizen, that is. A conversation for another day.) To live and let live. But what happens when your voice and your circulation of false information endangers the health and wellbeing of others? When your choice not to wear a mask, not to vaccinate, endangers your 65 year old neighbor with diabetes, your newborn niece or nephew, or just the unlucky person you happen to pass by in the grocery store?

I thought about watching the video just to break it down piece by piece. I chose not to because a. it’s 26 minutes and life is short/too precious to waste time on listening to information that sounded incredibly suspect just from the title b. there’s a long and detailed about page that tells me what I need to know and c. several physicians and specialists have already written some great responses. I’ve included them below. Please read them. Some are admittedly more inflammatory than others. If you think or thought at any point that Plandemic was a plausible reality, I ‘ll try my best not to judge you. These are frightening times, and there is a weird comfort in latching on to ‘answers’ like the ones provided in this video, strange and incredulous as they may be.

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/08/852451652/seen-plandemic-we-take-a-close-look-at-the-viral-conspiracy-video-s-claims Great breakdown of the major allegations of the video, put out by NPR. All responses carefully cited.

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferkastenmd/posts/a-response-to-videos-including-plandemic-by-judy-mikovits-phd-on-the-origins-of-/133429318310015/ One of the best, most well-written responses in my opinion. She sticks to facts and avoids inflammatory language that may generate an emotional reaction that stops you from reading. Well cited with reliable sources.

https://respectfulinsolence.com/2020/05/06/judy-mikovits-pandemic/ The first response I saw to the video. Slightly inflammatory. I admit I along with many pediatricians/physicians who have been responding to vaccine hesitancy for several years now do find it strenuous and sometimes tiring to find ourselves in the same arguments over and over again as we work so hard to protect our patients and our families. But this is an excellent piece with citations for every counter-argument. It sticks to the facts.

https://instrumentofmercy.com/2020/05/07/why-your-christian-friends-and-family-members-are-so-easily-fooled-by-conspiracy-theories/?fbclid=IwAR1hkFgPo_zjOAEjmkB_GVGSm_WhWnAJ3ZOx-EXcCmoZWK3f-1HuE9hhGdk Probably the most inflammatory. I am a Christian, and I have also seen a pattern of Christians (not all, but a handful) I am friends with on Facebook, posting conspiracy theory content more frequently than connections from other parts of my life. Skip the intro and dive in at the section titled ‘Why we all love a good conspiracy theory.’ Some really great psychology and logic behind why we as humans are intrigued by these theories and how we can think critically through them.

https://theconversation.com/is-this-study-legit-5-questions-to-ask-when-reading-news-stories-of-medical-research-117836 Lastly, a great read on how to differentiate between good and bad scientific studies. While not directly related to the Plandemic video, a lack of knowledge about science writing and how to critique research articles leaves anyone vulnerable to misinterpreting data, science and facts. I will fully admit that scientific papers can be hard to read and interpret.

I hope these responses to the Plandemic video are helpful to you. No offense meant in any way. While I am happy to answer questions and have healthy discussions, I am not interested in debating this video so please don’t comment or message me with comebacks as to why I’m wrong or the video is correct. I’m not changing my view on this one and if you aren’t open to thinking differently about these issues this isn’t the place for you.

Stay safe everyone,

Libassa Ecolodge

It still feels so weird to be writing from home...this weekend I was supposed to be flying out of Liberia to Accra in Ghana (for visa reasons), and Peter had booked this crazy flight itinerary just to see me for 3 days. Instead we've been together, in Boston, for the past 2 weeks, and ironically while his job has thrown him into a deep dive of Covid-19 data to help with the response, I am currently on backup at home until late next week. It especially feels weird knowing I have friends being pulled to the front lines of this...an outpatient GP working as a hospitalist for the first time in over a year, an undergraduate pre-med friend in psychiatry deployed by the military to work a field hospital in Manhattan. I am sure my time will come too, but have to admit there's a little guilt knowing so many friends and colleagues are risking their lives daily while I am home safe. That being said, I am sure my turn will come.

Since I am waiting on my next batch of data to enter for Liberia, I thought I'd share these photos from Libassa Ecolodge. It's this really amazing place a short drive from Robertsfield Airport. Think a cozy, laidback beach resort that is working towards becoming zero-waste. That is truly an amazing accomplishment in a place like Liberia, where there can be many barriers towards sustainable practices.

We arrived late on a Friday night to discover we were one of only 2 couples there. Due to a gasoline shortage, most people had canceled their trip...definitely not great for business/Liberia at large, but we admittedly loved having the whole place to ourselves to explore. And there is a lot to explore...apart from the beach there is a multi-level pool deck with a lazy river, a great bar and restaurant, a lagoon with kayaks for rent and even an animal sanctuary.

The efforts they have made to reduce their impact on the environment really are impressive. Room electricity is limited to 200 watts each, with solar-power lighting for exterior areas. For every tree taken down to build the lodge, another tree was planted. They aren't plastic free (I think this would be quite difficult to manage, but a solid future goal) but minimize use of plastics and recycle both plastics and paper as much as possible. They also use well water as much as possible for cooking, and compost food waste when appropriate.

You can probably tell from the photos how secluded and quiet the place was the weekend we went...it is usually a pretty popular day trip from Monrovia. We really enjoyed having the place to ourselves. 

The pool deck is broken into 3 levels connected by stairs and a waterfall. This is the largest pool. Peter loves to actually swim so this was his favorite spot. I don't know if it's an English thing but he had never come across a shallow lounge pool until we stayed at the Palazzo in Vegas on our cross-country road trip. He actually tried to swim laps in it, which was kind of amazing 😂 Unfortunate for him, it didn't work out...

This is the lagoon side, where you can rent kayaks, lounge and swim. There is also a bar on this end and you can have lunch overlooking the lagoon. We only took a short kayak trip (lazy as hell + strong currents = bad combo) but loved seeing tropical birds and some monkeys swinging in the trees.

They had the most amazing all natural smoothies...this one was pineapple. Still miss enjoying a Savanna cider on a hot day at the beach. 

The shared deck of our palaver hut. I didn't take any photos inside because we are messy humans and the room was a disaster from the moment we dropped our stuff off. But the space was clean, cozy, and well designed. Water was heated by the sun so you could take a warm shower by 5-6 pm (to be honest a cold shower probably feels amazing during the dry season- it gets so hot!) There was no AC but we were pretty comfortable with the fan on overnight. Because of the 200 watt limit, the room was on the darker side, which helps keep things cool during the intense dry season.

We stayed in a Palaver hut, a traditional house built with local materials. There are also larger spaces available directly looking over the ocean and lagoon.

I *think* the LED lights are low watt? Made for some fun lighting. We came here to watch the sunsets. The first photo on this posts shows what a beautiful view you get.

So tan. So happy :) This was our first weekend together in over a month. I am really, really really thankful that Peter got to see how beautiful Liberia is before this Covid-19 outbreak. We had so many plans for his next trip, from exploring Mount Nimba to Robertsport to visiting the National Park, but all of that is up in the air now. Obviously there are way more important challenges in life right now. But I am glad we got to make some fun memories together here.

One more pic of this dress since it's pretty much my favorite :) from Nani Pani (linked. Not sponsored.)

One of the coolest things about Libassa is their animal sanctuary. Unlike some of the organizations highlighted in Tiger King (looking at you, 'Doc' Antle...ugh), this one was founded purely as a place for exotic animals originally bought as pets to either be rehabilitated for the wild or live as comfortably as possible in a more natural environment. We got to see monkeys, a crocodile, and even pangolins (which are native to Liberia) before Covid-19 brought them to the international spotlight.

While they try to release as many animals back into the wild as possible, some animals, like this juvenile monkey, won't survive in their natural environment as they've never been exposed to anything besides an unnatural human habitat. They will likely spend most of their lives here. :(

I think that's a wrap! FYI I was not sponsored to write this post. My blog does not have that kind of readership, haha (insert self-deprecating joke here 😋) We had a great time, and I was totally impressed with the Libassa Ecolodge model for sustainability and efforts to have a neutral to positive impact on the local community and environment. You can find more information here on their website.

I have to say, we've been lucky enough to visit a lot of truly beautiful, tropical places, from where I grew up in Florida to where we met in Greece (Crete, Santorini, I'm looking at you!) to the absolutely stunning and tropical Hawaii, but this was easily one of the most beautiful, peaceful, relaxing weekends we have had in a long time. If you are ever in Liberia, I highly recommend a visit. Be prepared to pay with cash as they are pretty remote, and credit card machines only work intermittently. Also bring plenty of bug spray! Mosquito nets are provided in each room.

Hope you enjoyed! Stay safe and healthy, folks.

Look for the Helpers.

Well I’ve been home a week today, and besides sleeping very well at night, I’m feeling sort of useless. As of right now I’m not needed back until next week, and until our new data collection system is up and running, there won’t be much I can do remotely to help my colleagues overseas. While I’m insanely thankful to be home, with my husband, who still has his job and brings me oat milk lattes every morning (the real MVP,) as someone with an medical degree I’m feeling pretty restless right now, wanting to help out but not sure where to go from here.

So I decided to come up with a short list of ways to help from home during this pandemic. I’m sure this list isn’t exhaustive, and it certainly isn’t much of a contribution compared to those on the frontlines of this crisis (not just nurses and doctors, but those keeping the grocery stores stocked, delivering much-needed supplies, running tests, organizing response logistics…the list goes on…) I’m pretty sure its better than binge-watching the rest of Mad Men on Netflix.

Stay home. This cannot be emphasized enough. And I think most people get it. We’re starting to sound like broken records at this point. But to the Evangeline Lilys of the world, who think this is some thinly veiled mechanism to slowly redact our freedoms…just stop. If you care more about your freedom than the life of your immuno-compromised friend, your elderly parent, the physicians, nurses and other health workers who risk their lives for us every day…. Then I don’t think there’s anything anyone can say to make you listen. But if those people matter even one iota to you, please stay home.

 Donate your masks and protective equipment. Hospitals in New York, Boston, and pretty much anywhere with a lot of Covid-19 cases are running critically low on masks and other personal protective equipment. Currently at my job we are being rationed one mask per shift, and other hospitals only have enough for one mask per week per health worker. Please help us help you, and donate any unused masks or protective equipment you may have to the nearest hospital.

Donate to support others in need. Global crises always have a way of disproportionately harming society’s most vulnerable groups. School closures and job disruptions have left even more people than usual going hungry both in the United States and Globally. Food banks can help safely deliver needed supplies to those who are most in need (check out feedingamerica.org to see how you can help,) and WHO provides much-needed supplies and support to Covid-19 responses in low-income countries. Check out the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for more details.

Shop small. It’s probably no surprise to anyone that small businesses are suffering. If your budget allows, ordering a gift card, or having food delivered from your favorite local restaurant, can help keep places going while their business has otherwise screeched to a halt. Don’t forget to tip well; those in the service industry have just lost the majority of their income (maybe a sign that the tipping culture in the U.S. is an epic fail, and we need to pay everyone a fair wage? What a novel idea…) If you know any artists, makers or musicians, consider ordering from their online shop if they have one, or venmoing a few bucks in exchange for a virtual serenade (I did this with @Castroviolin who plays beautifully in both famous halls and the NYC subway and it was lovely.)

Show your kind side. It sounds dumb but I really do believe our attitudes and behavior can impact others in small and meaningful ways. Thank the grocery store workers who are showing up to make sure you can buy food and toilet paper for the week. Facetime with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, and check up on family members who may live alone and feel especially isolated and vulnerable right now. If you’re able, Venmo a few dollars to friends or family in the healthcare workforce to get themselves a coffee or a snack during this stressful time. And make sure you’re being kind to yourself- eat well, drink plenty of water, exercise indoors if you can, and allow yourself the space to process this crazy new world we live in however helps you best. Just be sure to reach out to loved ones or a trusted mental health provider if you feel like its getting to be too much.

Thoughts? Any other ideas about how to help during these strange times? Let me know!

Stay safe and healthy,

Well, I'm Back

I wasn’t expecting to be writing my next post from outside of Liberia, but here we are. The plans changed slowly and suddenly at the same time. That may sound strange but it’s true. First, just under 2 weeks ago, a supervisor’s visit was cut short by Covid-19. Before she left we talked about the possibility of me leaving early and what it would entail, but nothing was set in stone. Then the craziest week of my life went down (can’t go into details but I have never been more stressed out in my entire life…) All the while I felt torn in two by the decision to stay and continue my work in Liberia or go home. Even with plans on the ground getting canceled left and right, and lots of fear of the unknown, there was still so much work to be done. I had finally fallen into a good workflow, become friends with my colleagues in Liberia, and felt like I was making progress in the right direction with our research goals. Ultimately the decision wasn’t in my hands and I was recalled by my program.

And then I left. It took 2 of 3 bookings getting canceled (all made within 24 hours of each other because airlines were changing routes and canceling things left and right,) a night spent hurriedly doing as much data entry as I could before leaving, and 2 last minute visits to a tailor (priorities, right?) before I was en route to the airport, starting the long journey home.

I didn’t sleep the night before my flight. Once the decision was made my mind began to torture me with all the possibilities for things to go wrong- delays, crowds and cancelations, running out of cash (I was already short due to an emergency the week before I departed,) running a fever before boarding the plane. I donned a surgical mask for the flight, anticipating dense crowds at the airports, but Roberstfield was calm and eerily empty. I think I was part of the last wave of foreigners to leave. I had one last cassava leaf at the airport café before boarding a half-empty flight to Accra, where I waited in a quiet airport lounge before boarding the flight that would deposit me at Dulles. Most people donned masks but were feeling uncommonly jovial and friendly- perhaps relieved knowing soon they’d be home and not stranded far from family during a global pandemic.

A few people coughed on the 11 hour flight back to the U.S. I tried not to worry about it too much, but couldn’t help but notice how gaping the openings were in my ill-fitting surgical mask. I was expecting mass chaos, crowding and long waits once we arrived in Dulles, but even with my border agent pausing every 10 seconds to check with his neighbor that he was asking me the right screening questions, there was absolutely no line or delays. I missed my flight anyways but was promptly booked onto another half empty flight back to Boston. From there it was surreal how fast everything happened. Less than 2 hours later as we deplaned I almost immediately exited the terminal, nearly blowing past my husband because I had left the secure area. I thought I would cry, or laugh, or be overwhelmed with emotion, but I was to numb with surprise and shock. He took my bag, handed me my coat and we headed back home on an uncharacteristically empty Storrow drive.

I am both relieve and disappointed at the same time. Despite having some health issues in Liberia, I really was having an incredible experience. The specialists, consultants and residents and I had all gotten to known each other, I had figured out where I fit into their system, their world. Up until the week before I left, some really great projects were going to be ramped up. One of the pediatricians had taken me with her to visit waterside market, and she I had plans to make pepper sauce before I went back.

Apart from all this, I definitely feel some guilt as well. Guilt that I am home, on my couch, unpacking, with my husband only a few feet away, in a country with an ICU, with ventilators, with intensivists, and with way more capacity to handle a surge in cases of Covid-19. Guilt that my friends and colleagues are still in Liberia, facing uncertainty and a disease that has been shown to cause serious illness in healthcare workers. I still feel the decision to leave was the right one- both due to my health and because I would hate for my job to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars evacuating me in the event of a medical emergency when that money could be better spent elsewhere.

I’ve spent the last couple of days since getting home sleeping, unpacking and trying to wrap my head around Covid-19’s impact on Boston. Soon I’ll meet with my team to devise a game plan for work these next few months. Hopefully it will make me feel less helpless. In the meantime I’ll keep reading the situation reports from WHO and prepping myself mentally for whatever lies ahead the next few months. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy these days.