Secondary Projects

I'm still busy preparing the training manual for the Healthy Households program. Most of the manual was already written, I just added one chapter on safe water treatment and storage, and added data from my CSB to tailor the manual to my site. I also worked with a friend to translate two of the chapters. I'm hoping this will motivate the ACs further knowing which health problems affect our community specifically. This manual has taken much longer than I anticipated but it is now translated and in the review process with the help of my counterpart. She thinks this will really help the ACs with refresher trainings making all the work and headache completely worth it.

I am also doing a program called Helping Babies Breathe (HBB). This is through an organization called Mercy Ships which which is an international agency that provides free health care. In January I will go to a training on the east coast to learn how to train medical personnel on proper resuscitation techniques for babies and mothers during birth. I'll then hold a training for the staff at my CSB and staff from a nearby CSB. For 8 weeks before the training and after the training I will track the births determining how many babies are healthy, how many need assistance, how many mothers are referred to a larger hospital, etc. The doctor and midwife expressed a lot of interest in this program.

One of the Toby (health resource center) in town is in need of a new roof. The building has little insulation and is too hot for mothers to bring in their babies for weighings and nutrition counseling. An AC and I spoke to a carpenter to get a quote and also brainstormed fundraising ideas. We want to essentially have a bake sale and sell bracelets to raise money while educating community members on the services available at the Toby. However, my AC suggested that we wait until April to fundraise as that is harvest time and more people will be willing to buy non essential items. Hopefully we can get the community excited about this project as well.

Lastly, I will be trainer for the new health volunteers arriving in February! I will go to a training of trainers in January then help train the new stage in March. I'm looking forward to all of the upcoming projects and trainings in the new year!

You know you're a PCV when
- you have permanent sandal tan lines
-the seat next to you on a taxi-brousse is the last to be sat in

Fete Ny AC

December 5 was Health Volunteer Day and I decided to throw a party celebrating the ACs in my community. ACs volunteer their time to work at health resource centers, write reports, give presentations, and be available to the community for general health information. They don't receive pay and they have jobs, families, and other responsibilities to juggle in addition to their AC role.

I baked chocolate cake and made a poster expressing thanks, and the AC brought soda and crackers. A few speeches were made, lots of pictures were taken, and a little dancing happened. Everyone had fun and the party was a success. I hope this motivates the ACs to continue their work as they are critical to the health system in my community (two doctors, one midwife, one matron, and one pharmacist serving over 15,000 people).

You know you're a PCV when
- No one shows up to your meetings
- Similar to a phantom limb, you get phantom smells. I swear I smelled pepperoni pizza the other day