Yovophobia

I mentioned in a recent post how depressing one ward has been lately. I returned from two days off to learn that we have three new kiddos with Burkitts lymphoma, a very treatable cancer with so many rounds of chemo. The ship fortunately has access to the chemo here. So we are giving them their first couple rounds. They then will follow-up with a local hospital through our palliative care team. Although, sadly once its turned over to the local hospital things like this too often "fall through the cracks." 

Last night at shift change, we nurses were joking around as we shared some of the recent challenges and frustrations. This is what came out of it:

Yovophobia: Fear of white persons. 

(note: Yovo is the slang name here in Benin for anyone with white skin)

Symptoms include, but not limited to, onset of or increased crying when approached by a Yovo; agitation or irritability at sight of Yovo; inability to appropriately and reasonably engage with a Yovo. 

We are pretty sure a couple of the children are suffering from this :)  

Needless to say, we all got a good, and much needed laugh over this!! I'll admit, it was quite therapeutic too!