Dont' worry, I'm not being killed by malaria, the goal is to prevent anyone from ever getting this awful disease.
For the past week, PCVs in our region have been visiting our large local weekly markets (think Farmers' market on a saturday morning) and have been trying to drive some key medical points home. Our equipment?
- Very loud sound system blasting very loud American music
- Lots of PCVs and local community members making speeches about malaria prevention (yes, I was one of the speakers)
- Bug repellent cream: Using cheap and local materials
- Lots of water (for dehydration)
- Even lots more soda (also for dehydration - Coke is the PCVs Gatorade)
Results: Our work extended to 6 markets, which means it reached community members from over 20 villages. This work was much appreciated by our local hospitals as they are in process of providing free mosquito nets to every single bed in every single household in our entire region (more on that program in a later blog).
Byron Yee
Peace Corps Volunteer - Senegal, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment