August 24, 2001
I thought you all, or at least some of you, might be interested in what it is I'm actually going to do here. As of yet it is not totally clear to me, either, but we did have a technical session today in which we went over the goals and objectives of the Maternal and Child Health program. Goal 1 (not in any specific order): Teach couples about family planning and encourage them to go to the clinic if they have need of birth control methods, Goal 2: teach women about pre- and post-natal care so that when they are pregnant they know where to go to receive the appropriate attention, Goal 3: educate the community, but specifically children, about the transmission of diseases and about general health and sanitation issues, and Goal 4: train a variety of people (nurses, interested women, and local bigwigs) about the importance of womens health.
One of the most interesting things, I think, is that we really do work quite closely with the Ministy of Health. Our project plan is to last for 6 years, and we are the first group of volunteers. The project was approved by the Ministry and they recommend the sites to which we are sent, although Peace Corps has final say since they are interested in our safety and the Ministry isn't (or at least doesn't have to answer to the US government if we aren't safe). We will all be at or very near some sort of clinic facility and a few of us may even be near a hospital. We will each have a counterpart who is part of the Ministry, usually a nurse. We get to take part in immunization drives and health education drives, and just generally I am really, really excited about the whole thing. Its a little scary because some of the other volunteers have health experience and/or training, but Rachid (Peace Corps health program assistant) promised that by the end of training everyone will be fully qualified, and since we aren't nurses, but are really there for education I probably shouldn't worry too much.
I'm astonished to say that it is the end of the week. It really feels as though yesterday was monday, though
spending each day in class seemed hopelessly long. Health only has another week in Rabat and then on the 1st we're off to Azilal and our 7 week site training. Everything else is going well, and I really appreciate the emails you send, it makes the homesickness less important. Hope all is well and you're ready for fall (I am!).
