Last week, I was discussing
upcoming events with my supervisor and she told me of the districts plan to
hold an open health day at our dispensary on May 2nd. We are a private faith based
facility and often times this causes it to go over looked and be under
utilized. There is a stigma that the a person can only go if you are catholic,
or that it will be far more expensive than the government facilities. This
couldn’t be further from the truth. The dispensary is available to everyone in
the community, and costs no more than the government clinics. Our dispensary
actually is more convenient because it treats you and then you have a bill to
pay. In the other facilities, when you are diagnosed if the doctor requires
gloves, or syringes, or a medication, you are required to go out to the chemist
(pharmacy that is not located in the hospital) and get it for them before they
treat you. This can cause a lot of time wasted when people are extremely ill.
So the district decided to hold a promotional day for our facility to mobilize
people and inform them on the resources they have in their community.
They
day consisted of entertainment from a local drama troupe as well as the
community health workers who both put on plays. There were also several
speeches from local officials and my supervisor and myself. Doctors and nurses
from other areas were brought in so that we could treat many different
ailments, as well as screen for cervical cancer, prostate cancer, test for HIV,
administer immunizations, and treat jiggers. It was a huge success with over
700 people in attendance, and gave me an opportunity to talk to the district
level workers as well as the large NGO Afia plus. I was able to discuss the
process of getting a community unit in my area. This would give my community
health workers proper training. They are wonderful and do as much as they can,
but with training I know that they could be even better, and the knowledge they
would gain would be a sustainable way to continue good health education and
practices.
My CHW's putting on a drama that shows the importance of going a dispensary and being properly treated when you are pregnant.
One of my community health workers treating a young girl for jiggers. I'm so proud of them and their motivation to help the community!
Just hanging out with the local kids, playing games and taking photos! They provide hours of entertainment =)
In Entertainment news, I
finished up reading They Poured Fire on
Us from the Sky, a book about the Lost Boys during the war in Sudan, and am
now reading The Book Thief. I am
obsessively watching Downton Abbey and have already made it to season three. I
just can’t stop its so good! I hope everyone is well, and I miss you all! Send
me updates when you can, I love to hear from you! xoxo
With Love and Sunshine,
Lindsey Rae
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