18.04.06 - 18:01

And my quarterly report from January to march 2006. Doesn't it make me look like I'm working hard? Cuz I'm not. As the saying goes, I am actually "hardly working."

Peace Corps Mauritania
Community Health/Water and Sanitation
Quarterly Report

PCV name: Molly McCollom Reporting period: January – March 2006
Site: Nouakchott Region: Nouakchott
Date Received By APCD (to be filled by APCD): _____________________________

Health Activities:

Activity #1: AIDS Haima
Topic(s) Addressed: AIDS (support for HIV+ people)

Number of individuals assisted directly: up to 233 Espoir et Vie patients (M 115 F 118)
Indirectly: ?

Name of organization(s) strengthened: Espoir et Vie

Communities assisted: Nouakchott

Describe activity and how it contributed to the project plan goal:
I have begun work on a creative project, much like the American AIDS quilt. Each PLWHA will decorate a square of fabric to represent him/herself (or another PLWHA of their aquaintance.) The squares will be sewn together to create a haima, which can be used during AIDS sensibilisations. The haima will personalize the AIDS issue; PLWHA will no longer be just numbers in the mind of the onlooker, but “real people.” In addition, this gives PLWHA a positive project and creative outlet, which can be helpful psychologically.

Follow up actions planned:
This project is in progress.

Activity #2: PLWHA pen pal project
Topic(s) Addressed: AIDS (support for HIV+ people)

Number of individuals assisted directly: 10 Espoir et Vie patients (M 5 F 5)
Indirectly: 0

Name of organization(s) strengthened: Espoir et Vie

Communities assisted: Nouakchott

Describe activity and how it contributed to the project plan goal:
I have organized a pen pal project with PLWHA at the Whitman Walker Clinic in Washington, DC. Both American and Mauritanian PLWHA will be able to exchange experiences and give support.

Follow up actions planned:
My contact at the Whitman Walker Clinic has yet to respond to the letters I have sent. I may have to find another organization with which to correspond.

Activity #3: General Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
Topic(s) Addressed: AIDS (support for HIV+ people)

Number of individuals assisted directly: 10 Espoir et Vie patients (M 5 F 5)
Indirectly: 1 Espoir et Vie staff member (M 0 F 1)

Name of organization(s) strengthened: Espoir et Vie

Communities assisted: Nouakchott

Describe activity and how it contributed to the project plan goal:
I often talk with PLWHA who come into Espoir et Vie. Often, I simply greet them, and make small talk. However, I am trying as much as possible to speak with them about relevant topics. I have spoken with HIV+ mothers about the nutritional needs of their children. I have also spoken about the dangers of smoking, especially for PLWHA with compromised immune systems, to several men.

I have also tried to be as compassionate as possible. When PLWHA talk about their problems, I listen. Sometimes I think that this is the most important function of Espoir et Vie: to allow PLWHA to express their problems without judging them. I try to make as much physical contact with the women as possible, especially when they are crying, as so many of them receive no physical contact at all; their families and friends have rejected them, and are scared to come anywhere near them. Likewise, I will play with the children who come in with their mothers, knowing that many of them receive no physical contact with anyone but their mothers. This also gives the mothers a little break from constantly taking care of their children.

Follow up actions planned:
I will continue to try to find little ways to improve the NGO. I am especially interested in training the staff in counseling techniques for upset and depressed HIV+ patients, as I think this education is somewhat lacking.

Activity #4: Health NGO List for PCVs
Topic(s) Addressed: general

Number of individuals assisted directly: CH PCVs
Indirectly: everyone CH PCVs help

Name of organization(s) strengthened: Peace Corps

Communities assisted: all

Describe activity and how it contributed to the project plan goal:
I am in the process of collecting information about national health NGOs. Currently, there is no list of this information. I would like to include not only contact information, but also records of which PCVs have worked with the NGOs in the past (and on what projects), and “informal” information, such as “Offer to give Sidi English lessons in exchange for his help in an AIDS sensibilisation.”

Follow up actions planned:
Continue to gather and collate this information from health PCVs.

Activity #5: AIDS Support Group
Topic(s) Addressed: AIDS

Number of individuals assisted directly: 15 (M 9, F 6)
Indirectly:

Name of organization(s) strengthened: Espoir et Vie

Communities assisted: Nouakchott

Describe activity and how it contributed to the project plan goal:
I attended a support group (“groupe de parole”) for PLWHA. I will present feedback on the session.

Follow up actions planned:
See above.

Activity #5: Condom Distribution Project
Topic(s) Addressed: AIDS

Number of individuals assisted directly: M 45 F 22
Indirectly: recipients of condoms; up to 15,000 people

Name of organization(s) strengthened: Espoir et Vie

Communities assisted: Nouakchott, Atar, Selibaby, Rosso, Breun

Describe activity and how it contributed to the project plan goal:
FNUAP gave Espoir et Vie 15,000 condoms to distribute. I arranged for PCVs Crista, Alexis, Brock, and Alison to arrange for distribution in their communities. I accompanied Espoir et Vie president Hussein to Rosso to give the condoms to Alexis and Crista. The project targets these groups: PLWHA, prostitutes, the military, transporters, la jeunesse, and the interior of Mauritania.

I attended a sensibilisation at the University (used to covertly distribute condoms to la jeunesse.)

Follow up actions planned:
I am trying to teach Espoir et Vie staff how to follow up on a project like this one (e.g. how to determine its effectiveness, how to do the project better in the future, etc.)

Non-health Activities (Secondary Projects):
For the past year and a half, I’ve been facilitating a pen pal program between 4 children in Kankossa and 4 children in the US.

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