Ayer: HIV Proficiency Memoir
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”
Those words from John Shed always stand as a referee every time the truth of my work sinks in—the truth that it’s risky, it’s jam-packed with biohazards and it spells the word ‘unsafe’.
Metaphorically, as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, I could be idle and escape the risks just like a ship in harbor. But the ocean is waiting for me to send me to places its waves would gladly go. Yes, because I believe the Lord did not put me in this field in vain. He wants me to fulfill the purpose for which He has called me to do right from where He has placed me in—to sail far in this big ocean of His ministry of healing.
One pleasant sail I can vividly recall was my HIV Proficiency experience. At first, I asked “Am I really doing this?” Because I know it would ask a lot from me: commitment, risks, time and all. Nevertheless, it has taught me a lot—beyond all doubts and apprehensions. Indeed, there’s so much more to this profession than just complete blood count and platelets and random sugars and urinalysis. It requires more than just getting samples, running the tests and releasing of results. It speaks more than just healing. It speaks more than just cure. I’m telling you there’s so much more behind the scenes.
Being an HIV Proficient entails huge responsibility. It needs a compassionate heart for people who are struggling with this slayer: Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It needs a strong heart to fight pity, blame and revulsion. I can quite testify ‘cause every time I tell a patient that the result’s positive I was always holding back tears, fighting hard to control any emotion that would not be, in any way, helpful.
Along with that are the risks and biohazards, of course. But, one thing I learned: literally, there’s no such thing as a safe place here on earth. Risks are everywhere. Just walking down the street is risky—a car may hit you. You can sleep and not wake up. You can live with a good lifestyle yet still acquire a disease. What I simply mean here is that anything can happen anytime and anywhere. This world is not safe. Life, itself, is full of uncertainties. The safest thing we know can be the most dangerous thing our life can have. All we can do is pray and trust the One who is able to take control of our lives.
To me, doing all these risky stuffs is fulfilling. I’d rather take the risks my whole life and do what the Lord tells me to do than just be a ship in harbor—an idle and lonely place. Because the truth stands that a ship in harbor is not safe at all. It can burn anytime. It can sink anytime. It can be destroyed there anytime. So I’d rather sail and go to places and serve my purpose than suffer the risks of idleness. :)
~~>Sharing with you here a glimpse of that journey<~~
Organizers, lecturers, guests and participants of the “Training on HIV Proficiency for Selected Medical Technologists in CDOC” last May 18-25, 2014
Several lectures, short quizzes and long tests.(My batch-mates are taking it seriously. Yay!)
Laboratory activities and actual execution of the tests. (We have done not just HIV test but also HBV, HCV and Syphilis Tests)
One of the tests I truly enjoyed doing was this ImmunoComb Test for Hepatitis C Virus or HCV. (A comb indeed!)
My teammates! (messy space ha)
Our mentors during the Closing Ceremony.
Let’s sail through with more to come.
Ciao,
Aico Marie :)