June Updates

The month of June I made it a priority to get out to visit some of the health projects.  I made it to all 6 projects.  It was an encouragement to see all that is going on. These are some pictures from the last month...

OVC Home Visits - The orphans and vulnerable child project is working on visiting and collecting updated information on every child during the school vacation.  This is a large task since we have over 4,000 children in the program!  These pictures are from my day with OVC monitor Nathanial in Foya.  The first two are the caregivers with the children in the OVC program.  The last picture is one of the children in the program with other children from the community.

REAL Peer Educator Training Session - One Saturday morning I attended the peer educator training session in Foya for the sexual and reproductive health class.  It was encouraging to see the youth participate in the class after hearing some of the positive changes that have been taking place in the lives of the peer educators as they rededicate their lives to Christ and are learning how much He values them.

Playing the human knot game

Preparing for a skit

Practicing saying no

 EPHS Roll Out Meetings - Our BPHS (basic package of health services) program ended in March and we have transitioned to EPHS (essential package of health services).  In June we officially rolled out the project by holding meetings with the gCHVs (general community health volunteers), TTMs (trained traditional midwives), CHDCs (community health development committees), and clinic staff.  We used the time to explain the new project and recognize volunteers who were committed, hard workers in the BPHS project.  We also gave each volunteer from BPHS a certificate to recgonize their work.  I never realized how valued a piece of paper can be!

TTMs waiting for lunch to finish cooking and the meeting to start

Meeting at Laingbamba Clinic

The district health officer recognizes and outstanding TTM by giving an umbrella

gCHVs after the meeting at Sarkonadu Clinic

 CHE Training - I went to a different Laingbamba where two of our CDFs have a community health education training every week.  Philip opened the meeting with a review of the Bible stories which they have been going through chronologically.  Henrietta followed with an excellent health lesson on nutrition.  Mixed Food = Good Food.  So many people eat only rice or rice and proteins.   Henrietta really illustrated the lesson by giving people different foods and having them come up front in different combinations and asking - "Is this good food?".  A meal is not a meal without rice here, and understanding that bread, pineapple, and eggs is a good meal but just rice is not was a hard concept for some! 

CMAM Visits and Focus Groups in River Gee - This last week I was in River Gee to do some focus groups as we are assessing for new projects.  The most encouraging point was when one lady brought up some of the infant and young child feeding practice messages our volunteers have been sharing.  I asked if people have been practicing what the volunteer has taught and they say some people are changing their habits when it comes to breastfeeding practices.  I love visiting River Gee - maybe because it is my first base to visit or because there is only one project to focus on so it is less overwhelming, but whatever the reason, the staff there are doing a great job.  Below is a picture of all the River Gee base staff and the bottom picture is the CMAM nutrition program staff.

 

Please keep praying for these projects, for the staff, and for myself as we continue the work.