This past week in Guyana was National Vaccination Week and maternal and child health departments in every region across the country had events, seminars, and rallys to promote vaccination, safe motherhood, and HIV/AIDS awareness. On Thursday April 29th, the maternal and child health department in my region, region 3, held a walk-a-thon and rally in my village that I was lucky enough to be a part of.
It started at 9am when nurses, medex's, community health workers and volunteers from every health center in the region gathered together to walk 2 miles along the main road in Vreed-en-Hoop. Carrying banners and signs and chanting "Immunize your family, protect your community", we marched along, hoping to engage the community in the fight to get a 95% complete vaccination rate for all of region 3. It was inspiring to see so many health workers take time off from their jobs and their lives to help promote such an important message, one that is so vital to ensuring that people are as healthy as possible.
After the march, we made our way to the central market area in the village, right next to the dock where all the boats to and from town are. There, we set up a tent with tables that had posters, pamphlets, and displays with information about vaccinations, safe motherhood and breast feeding, as well as HIV/AIDS and family planning. Under the tent was an area where several nurses were giving out free vaccines for yellow fever, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and tetanus, for anyone who needed one. All health care in Guyana is normally free of charge but often times people are unable to get to a health center to receive care and, since there is no law requiring children to be fully vaccinated before attending school, many people have not gotten vaccinated as children.
As the nurses and medex's set up the vaccination area, myself and a few other volunteers set out to recruit passersby to stop and get vaccinated. In the crowded area of the market, there were many people walking past, on their way to and from the boats and most of them were curious as to the huge white tent set up and all the people milling around. And of course, it only added to their curiosity that strange white people were stopping them and asking if they had all their vaccinations up to date :)
I was amazed at the number of people who not only stopped to see what was going on, but looked at the posters and asked questions, not only about vaccinations but about health in general. People were honestly curious about why vaccinations are important, what they do, and who should get them. It felt really good to be out there, talking to people and feeling like I was actually making a difference, even if it was a small one. By the end of the 1st hour, standing out in the hot midday sun, I had gotten 6 people to go get vaccinated, convinced half a dozen others to come back later in the afternoon, and given an impromptu health talk on malaria prevention.
The thing about Peace Corps work, and development work in general, is that the majority of the time, you don't feel like you're actually making a difference. The problems, especially health problems, are so massive and daunting, and you are just one, tiny person that it feels impossible to actually make any sort of lasting change. You have to constantly keep reminding yourself that if you can change one life, one person, one family, to live a healthier life then you've made a difference.Yesterday, I think I really felt that for the first time since I've been here. After hours in the hot sun, I was dehydrated and sunburned, but happy. A few hours of my time spent and I had convinced a young mother to get her yellow fever shot and an older gentleman to get tetanus. Another couple wasn't sure if they had ever gotten MMR and, after talking with another man, he realized that he had gotten a yellow fever vaccine so long ago and never remembered to get another one, until today. It was so encouraging to see people genuinely concerned about their health and willing to take a few minutes out of their day to go get vaccinated and be an example to their family and community. It was definitely one of my better days here in Guyana :)
Love and miss you all,
Lindsay
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
April 22nd, 2011
So I have officially been a Peace Corps volunteer for over a week now. I've moved and settled into my new apartment, complete with 2 hammocks and an adopted pet kitten named Nala. I started my new job at the hospital on Monday and they already have given me another project to add to my workload but I'm excited to get started. I feel like I've been here for years and I feel like I just got off the plane yesterday, all at the same time.
While this has been an exciting whirlwind of a week for me and my fellow Guy 23er's, it was a bittersweet week I'm sure for another batch of volunteers who had their COS on the 13th (close of service, which means their 2 years are up and they have to return to the states). I ran into many of them at the Peace Corps office in town as they wrapped up few last minute items and I had a brief, fleeting thought that in 2 short years, I was going to be exactly where they are. It dawned on me how short of a time period 2 years actually is and that, befoe I know it, I'll be back in the states, not as a Peace Corps volunteer but a Returned Peace Corps volunteer. I know that I'll be so busy with projects over the next 2 years that their is no way time won't just fly by. That notion made me pause for a minute. When you finally accomplish a dream you've had for years, serving in the Peace Corps, the only thing crazier to imagine that actually doing it is imagining it being over. It makes me even more determined to make the most out of these next 2 years and to get everything I possbly can out of this expeience.
One of the major reasons I know I will be so busy over the next 2 years is my job at the hospial. My supervisior has so many ideas and projects he wants me to get started on that it is almost a little bit overwhelming. The first project is the most daunting but also the one I'm most excited about. Currently in Guyana, there is almost no treatment/prevention/rehibilitation services avaliable for mental health. Even though suicide, alcoholism, and domestic abuse are major issues throughout the country, the social stigma surronding them is so strong that there is almost no way for a person to seek help or get information. The current minister of health has made it a personal crusade to change the status of mental health in this country by implemting new policies, new training programs, and new prevention and treatment services. My job is to tell him what those should be. I am pretty sure that my supervisor and I
are the only people actively working on this. No pressure. And that is just the first project they want me to do. Like I said, overwhelming and daunting and super exciting all at the same time. I'm definitely gonna need that vacation in December :)
I promise I will write more soon. It's Easter weekend so I have the next 4 days off, plenty of time to lay in my hammock and update everyone on my life :) Miss you all, hope everyone back home is well. Can't wait to start getting letters from everyone!!!
Love,
Lindsay
While this has been an exciting whirlwind of a week for me and my fellow Guy 23er's, it was a bittersweet week I'm sure for another batch of volunteers who had their COS on the 13th (close of service, which means their 2 years are up and they have to return to the states). I ran into many of them at the Peace Corps office in town as they wrapped up few last minute items and I had a brief, fleeting thought that in 2 short years, I was going to be exactly where they are. It dawned on me how short of a time period 2 years actually is and that, befoe I know it, I'll be back in the states, not as a Peace Corps volunteer but a Returned Peace Corps volunteer. I know that I'll be so busy with projects over the next 2 years that their is no way time won't just fly by. That notion made me pause for a minute. When you finally accomplish a dream you've had for years, serving in the Peace Corps, the only thing crazier to imagine that actually doing it is imagining it being over. It makes me even more determined to make the most out of these next 2 years and to get everything I possbly can out of this expeience.
One of the major reasons I know I will be so busy over the next 2 years is my job at the hospial. My supervisior has so many ideas and projects he wants me to get started on that it is almost a little bit overwhelming. The first project is the most daunting but also the one I'm most excited about. Currently in Guyana, there is almost no treatment/prevention/rehibilitation services avaliable for mental health. Even though suicide, alcoholism, and domestic abuse are major issues throughout the country, the social stigma surronding them is so strong that there is almost no way for a person to seek help or get information. The current minister of health has made it a personal crusade to change the status of mental health in this country by implemting new policies, new training programs, and new prevention and treatment services. My job is to tell him what those should be. I am pretty sure that my supervisor and I
are the only people actively working on this. No pressure. And that is just the first project they want me to do. Like I said, overwhelming and daunting and super exciting all at the same time. I'm definitely gonna need that vacation in December :)
I promise I will write more soon. It's Easter weekend so I have the next 4 days off, plenty of time to lay in my hammock and update everyone on my life :) Miss you all, hope everyone back home is well. Can't wait to start getting letters from everyone!!!
Love,
Lindsay
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Officially a Peace Corps Volunteer :)
It has finally happened. After all these years, all the applications, all the waiting and paperwork, all the uncertainty and nervousness I offcially swore in as a Peace Corps volunteer, part of the 23rd group of Americans to serve in Guyana, on April 13th 2011.
There really are no words to describe how I am feeling right now. I happy and excited and nervous and scared and a million other things all at the same time. Tomorrow I move into my new apartment and on Monday I start my job at the hospital. For the next 2 years I will be a community health development worker in the beautiful country of Guyana. It it so crazy to think that it now my life, I feel like just yesterday I was in DC, working doubles at the bar and trying to stay awake in class :)
I am so excited to start this new adventure and the next chapter of my life. Of course, knowing that my family and friends back home support me and encourage me unconditionally makes living and working in a foreign country for 2 years that much easier. I miss and love you all and I can't wait to see you all in December, with plenty of pictures and stories to share.
Love
Lindsay
There really are no words to describe how I am feeling right now. I happy and excited and nervous and scared and a million other things all at the same time. Tomorrow I move into my new apartment and on Monday I start my job at the hospital. For the next 2 years I will be a community health development worker in the beautiful country of Guyana. It it so crazy to think that it now my life, I feel like just yesterday I was in DC, working doubles at the bar and trying to stay awake in class :)
I am so excited to start this new adventure and the next chapter of my life. Of course, knowing that my family and friends back home support me and encourage me unconditionally makes living and working in a foreign country for 2 years that much easier. I miss and love you all and I can't wait to see you all in December, with plenty of pictures and stories to share.
Love
Lindsay
Monday, April 4, 2011
New Address :)
Hello all,
I have a new, permanent address for everyone. Any letters, packages, birthday presents (hint, hint) can be sent to the following address:
Lindsay Perlman
25 New Road
Vreed-en-Hoop
West Coast Demerara
Guyana, South America.
Anything currently in the mail that is going to the other address at the Embassy will still get to me so no worries there, I just have to go pick it up at the Peace Corps office so it may take a little longer than normal.
I have a new, permanent address for everyone. Any letters, packages, birthday presents (hint, hint) can be sent to the following address:
Lindsay Perlman
25 New Road
Vreed-en-Hoop
West Coast Demerara
Guyana, South America.
Anything currently in the mail that is going to the other address at the Embassy will still get to me so no worries there, I just have to go pick it up at the Peace Corps office so it may take a little longer than normal.
Friday, March 25, 2011
10 Fun/Intersting/Hilarious Facts about Guyana and my integration process, so far :)
1. The phrase "just now" is used all the time when refering to meeting someone, arranging a time, or making plans. For example: "When are you coming by the house?" response, "I am coming just now." It can mean literally just now or in 10 minutes or in 2 weeks. Very annoying, yet very handy in getting out of things you don't want to do.
2. I went to the grocery store the other day to buy a chocolate bar and rum (the essentials) and the chocolate bar cost twice as much as the rum. Enough said.
3. I have found myself picking up on certain Creolese phrases, such as ending sentences with "don't cha know" and saying "Me nah know" or "Me no like". It will be fun when I use those back home and people just think I have really poor grammar :)
4. I have discovered that large groups of white people make me feel uncomfortable, since I am now used to being the only white person I see for days at a time. If I pass another white person on the street I find myself wondering who they are, why are they here, and why don't I know them. I'm assuming that means I'm fully integrated :)
5. A woman at my health center asked me the other say if I had gotten whiter. I may be the only
Peace Corps Guyana volunteer who doesn't tan and comes back to the states paler than she left.
6. People will repeat a word 2 or 3 times when they want to emphasize something instead of saying really or very. So in the states we would say "That dress is really pretty." or "That candy is very good." In Guyana Creolese you say, "That dress is nice nice" or "That candy is sweet sweet."
7. As a way of hitting on a woman (which Guyanese men do every day, all day, never ending, especially the strange white girls walking around) they making a sound at you calling "sipping". It basically sounds like you are doing a combination of blowing someone a kiss and sipping out of a straw. Will not be importing that pick up line back to the states :)
8. People say good night here as a way of greeting someone after dark. Instead of using it to say good bye, like we do in the states, people in Guyana say “Hello, goodnight.” So confusing the first time you hear it
9. My host mom constantly tells me I eat like a bird or that I am a "funny American eater" because I only take one scoop of rice with my curry, instead of the traditional 3 or 4 giant spoonfuls that is considered appropriate in Guyana.
10. Yes, it really is ridiculously hot and humid here all the time. You literally sweat just sitting or standing around doing nothing. I worked up a sweat watching TV the other day. Very attractive.
2. I went to the grocery store the other day to buy a chocolate bar and rum (the essentials) and the chocolate bar cost twice as much as the rum. Enough said.
3. I have found myself picking up on certain Creolese phrases, such as ending sentences with "don't cha know" and saying "Me nah know" or "Me no like". It will be fun when I use those back home and people just think I have really poor grammar :)
4. I have discovered that large groups of white people make me feel uncomfortable, since I am now used to being the only white person I see for days at a time. If I pass another white person on the street I find myself wondering who they are, why are they here, and why don't I know them. I'm assuming that means I'm fully integrated :)
5. A woman at my health center asked me the other say if I had gotten whiter. I may be the only
Peace Corps Guyana volunteer who doesn't tan and comes back to the states paler than she left.
6. People will repeat a word 2 or 3 times when they want to emphasize something instead of saying really or very. So in the states we would say "That dress is really pretty." or "That candy is very good." In Guyana Creolese you say, "That dress is nice nice" or "That candy is sweet sweet."
7. As a way of hitting on a woman (which Guyanese men do every day, all day, never ending, especially the strange white girls walking around) they making a sound at you calling "sipping". It basically sounds like you are doing a combination of blowing someone a kiss and sipping out of a straw. Will not be importing that pick up line back to the states :)
8. People say good night here as a way of greeting someone after dark. Instead of using it to say good bye, like we do in the states, people in Guyana say “Hello, goodnight.” So confusing the first time you hear it
9. My host mom constantly tells me I eat like a bird or that I am a "funny American eater" because I only take one scoop of rice with my curry, instead of the traditional 3 or 4 giant spoonfuls that is considered appropriate in Guyana.
10. Yes, it really is ridiculously hot and humid here all the time. You literally sweat just sitting or standing around doing nothing. I worked up a sweat watching TV the other day. Very attractive.
March 24th, 2011
So I had a very exciting weekend celebrating the Hindu holiday of Phagwah. I had never heard of it before I came to Guyana but here it is pretty much equal to Christmas in terms of how much people freak out about it. It was offcially on Sunday but people started celebrating on Saturday and contunied into Monday, which the government declared a national holiday as well. Even though its a Hindu festival, most people in Guyana celebrate it whether they are Hindu or not. And I've decided that the reason for this is that the holiday of Phagwah is pretty badass.
It started on Saturday, when I was taken to some Auntie's house with my host family (any older female relative or close female friend of any age in Guyana is called Auntie so I'm not sure who exactly this person was) and was basically force fed obsence amounts of food. It starts with seven curry, which is the offical dish of Phagwah. Seven curry is served in a giant bamboo leaf and is eaten with your hands. You start with a huge scoop of white rice on the leaf and then add in the seven different types of curry. They are all vegetable curries (no meat is eaten during Phagwah) and they are all extremly delicious. My favorites are the pumpkin, boulange (eggplant), baji (spinach), and bora ( potato). I ate enough seven curry for 3 or 4 people but it was totally worth it :) After the seven curry was done we had sweet rice (tastes exactly like rice pudding) and sweet cake (tastes exactly like a macaroon). It was so delicious, I don't think I've ever been that full. And of course there is always plenty of rum around for the men to drink. And apparently, being a white woman is the same as being a man, because I was constantly being served rum as well.
On Sunday, the actual day of Phagwah, families and friends gather at each others houses to celebrate "Holi Day" and to "play Phagwah" How does one play Phagwah, you may be asking? Simple. You dress all in white, run around, and throw neon colored powder on each other. Literally. That is the whole holiday. You get baby powder mixed with various colors, neon blue, pink, purple, orange, etc. and run around smearing it on each others faces and clothes (most people mix the powder with water to make sure it sticks). I went with some friends into town to the National staduim where they had a huge Phagwah party with music and free powder. It was insanity. I was completely covered in color, mostly blue for some reason, by the end of the day. I looked like someone had dumped a bucket of paint on me. It was so much fun, running around yelling 'Happy Phagwah' and just dumping colored powder on complete strangers. And of course, everyone wanted to Phagwah the white person and yell "Welcome to Guyana!" so I'm pretty sure my group got over-Phagwah-ed. There was Bollywood and Chutney (Indian) music blasting, powder and water going everywhere and people just running around having fun. It was a pretty good time, I may have to start celebrating Phagwah in the states when I get home.
The highlight of my Phagwah experience is that I got to meet, take a picture with and Phagwah the President of Guyana. He showed up at this event at the Indian Cultural Center we went to and he went right into the crowd and took pictures with everyone. So we all grabbed a little bit of powder, walked up individually to the President, said "Happy Phagwah Mr. President" and then smeared neon orange powder on his cheek. (Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds :) My friend has the picture of me with the President on her camera, as soon as I get it I will post it online. We are both covered in colored powder and look pretty ridculous but it was pretty awesome to get to meet and play Phagwah with the President of Guyana.
Definitely the highlight of my crazy Phagwah weekend. Pictures will be posted soon so you all can seen me looking like I'm in the Blue Man Group with blue powder and paint all over me :)
Love,
Lindsay
Pictures of Phagwah and my new apartment!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2078255&id=1277258438&l=572ff39abd
It started on Saturday, when I was taken to some Auntie's house with my host family (any older female relative or close female friend of any age in Guyana is called Auntie so I'm not sure who exactly this person was) and was basically force fed obsence amounts of food. It starts with seven curry, which is the offical dish of Phagwah. Seven curry is served in a giant bamboo leaf and is eaten with your hands. You start with a huge scoop of white rice on the leaf and then add in the seven different types of curry. They are all vegetable curries (no meat is eaten during Phagwah) and they are all extremly delicious. My favorites are the pumpkin, boulange (eggplant), baji (spinach), and bora ( potato). I ate enough seven curry for 3 or 4 people but it was totally worth it :) After the seven curry was done we had sweet rice (tastes exactly like rice pudding) and sweet cake (tastes exactly like a macaroon). It was so delicious, I don't think I've ever been that full. And of course there is always plenty of rum around for the men to drink. And apparently, being a white woman is the same as being a man, because I was constantly being served rum as well.
On Sunday, the actual day of Phagwah, families and friends gather at each others houses to celebrate "Holi Day" and to "play Phagwah" How does one play Phagwah, you may be asking? Simple. You dress all in white, run around, and throw neon colored powder on each other. Literally. That is the whole holiday. You get baby powder mixed with various colors, neon blue, pink, purple, orange, etc. and run around smearing it on each others faces and clothes (most people mix the powder with water to make sure it sticks). I went with some friends into town to the National staduim where they had a huge Phagwah party with music and free powder. It was insanity. I was completely covered in color, mostly blue for some reason, by the end of the day. I looked like someone had dumped a bucket of paint on me. It was so much fun, running around yelling 'Happy Phagwah' and just dumping colored powder on complete strangers. And of course, everyone wanted to Phagwah the white person and yell "Welcome to Guyana!" so I'm pretty sure my group got over-Phagwah-ed. There was Bollywood and Chutney (Indian) music blasting, powder and water going everywhere and people just running around having fun. It was a pretty good time, I may have to start celebrating Phagwah in the states when I get home.
The highlight of my Phagwah experience is that I got to meet, take a picture with and Phagwah the President of Guyana. He showed up at this event at the Indian Cultural Center we went to and he went right into the crowd and took pictures with everyone. So we all grabbed a little bit of powder, walked up individually to the President, said "Happy Phagwah Mr. President" and then smeared neon orange powder on his cheek. (Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds :) My friend has the picture of me with the President on her camera, as soon as I get it I will post it online. We are both covered in colored powder and look pretty ridculous but it was pretty awesome to get to meet and play Phagwah with the President of Guyana.
Definitely the highlight of my crazy Phagwah weekend. Pictures will be posted soon so you all can seen me looking like I'm in the Blue Man Group with blue powder and paint all over me :)
Love,
Lindsay
Pictures of Phagwah and my new apartment!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2078255&id=1277258438&l=572ff39abd
March 25th, 2011
I know it has been a while since I've written a blog post and so much has happened in the past couple of weeks, I'm not even sure where to begin!
First off, I finally got my permanent site placement and job assignment!!!! So exciting! Everybody ready? Drum roll please.....I got Region 3, West Coast, West Demerara Hospital!! Woot Woot!! Since I'm sure you guys have no idea what I'm talking about when I say Region 3 West Coast I'll explain, don't worry :)
Region 3 is the region of Guyana where I've been doing my training and where my host family lives and is located between the Demerara River and the Atlantic Ocean. It is right across the river from the capital, Georgetown and this will be the region I call home for the next 2 years. Currently I am with my host family in a village right along the ocean called Meten-mer-Zorg ( The majority of village and town names are left over from either Dutch or British colonialzation). My apartment where I'll be living after training ends on April 13th is about 25 minutes down the main road that runs along the coast (going towards Georgetown) in a village call Vreed-en-Hoop. Vreed-en-Hoop means 'peace and love' in Dutch, how awesome is that? :) I have my own apartment, which is really nice and comes furnished, and its on the top floor of a two story house. Another volunteer from last years group lives below me and my landlord lives in the house right in front of me. I am about a five minute walk from where I'll be working and either a 25 minute boat or bus ride to Georgetown. My village is a pretty good size and has a bank, post office, market and small grocery store as well as some small shops that sell snacks, drinks, and clothing. I will also be living right across the street from Chesters Fried Chicken resturant (like a KFC) which is the only place where women can go and have a drink (just beer) since the local rum shops or bars are only frequented by men. Definite bonus :) Oh, and my apartment has a room for my hammock (love that) and wireless internet is included in my rent. Overall, this place is nicer than the closet that barely passed for my place back in DC :)
And my job is even more exciting than my new apartment! I was assigned to work at West Demerara Hospital, which is the only major hospital in Region 3 and the 2nd largest public hospital in Guyana. My counterpart/mentor is the Assistant Hospital Administrator, Mr. Hira and he is pretty much in charge of hospital policy and making sure that the hospital runs as smoothly as possible on a day to day basis. My job at the hospital will be to work with Mr. Hira and the Regional Health Officer Dr Persuad (the guy in charge of every health center and hospital in region 3) to create and implment mental health policy in Guyana. Right now, like a lot of developing countries, there is no mental health policy in Guyana. There is no national policy or best practices in place to identify, treat, or prevent mental health or substance abuse issues. Suicide, depression, and substance abuse are extremely high in Guyana but they are not seen as health problems and often stigmatized so that people don't seek help. My job for the next 2 years will be to create a national policy on mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence and submit that to the Ministry of Health. No pressure or anything :) I am so so so so excited to get started on this. I know it will be a lot of work but being able to work on something like this, to actually develop working policy and possibly implement real change in Guyana is amazing.
I also have another secondary project to work on, in my spare time from creating national health policy (hilarious). Mr. Hira also wants me to work on creating a sanitation and hygiene policy for the hospital and work with the doctors, nurses, and other staff members to follow it. Right now, medical waste is disposed of with the regular trash, there is almost no concept of seperating out hazardous waste or bodliy fluid waste or even used needles. Everything gets lumped together and then dumped. I have witnessed red hazardous waste bags full of god knows what just sitting out in the open. I've seen nurses wear the same pair of disposable gloves to give injections to 3 different patients, without stopping to change the gloves or wash their hands. It is very disheartening to see such practices going on, especially when these are basic things that can be done very easily and have such a huge effect of health and disease control. So hopefully I will be able to put together a working policy on that and get the staff to understand why it is important to follow it and maintain it at all times.
My 3rd project ( not sure how long they think i'm going to be here) is to help in setting up the first and only electronic medical records system in the country. Right now every patients medical records are on paper and the system is ineffective and disorganized. West Demerara hospital is slowly moving towards putting all the information on computers and making it so that every health center can access the same medical records system. I will help out with gathering the information and inputting it into the system.
So that is my official job and site placement!!!! Everyone was so anxious and nervous to find out and they really made us wait until the last minute. I could not be more happy with my placement, it fits me perfectly and the location where I will be living is exactly what I wanted, an urban area on the coast close to other volunteers. It really is the perfect assignment :) I still have 3 more weeks of training so I don't officially start my job or move into my apartment until April but I am very excited to get started on what I know will be a challenging and rewarding 2 years. Love and miss you all, can't wait to start getting some letters from everyone!! (hint hint, my mom and dad have the address for you all)
Love,
Lindsay
First off, I finally got my permanent site placement and job assignment!!!! So exciting! Everybody ready? Drum roll please.....I got Region 3, West Coast, West Demerara Hospital!! Woot Woot!! Since I'm sure you guys have no idea what I'm talking about when I say Region 3 West Coast I'll explain, don't worry :)
Region 3 is the region of Guyana where I've been doing my training and where my host family lives and is located between the Demerara River and the Atlantic Ocean. It is right across the river from the capital, Georgetown and this will be the region I call home for the next 2 years. Currently I am with my host family in a village right along the ocean called Meten-mer-Zorg ( The majority of village and town names are left over from either Dutch or British colonialzation). My apartment where I'll be living after training ends on April 13th is about 25 minutes down the main road that runs along the coast (going towards Georgetown) in a village call Vreed-en-Hoop. Vreed-en-Hoop means 'peace and love' in Dutch, how awesome is that? :) I have my own apartment, which is really nice and comes furnished, and its on the top floor of a two story house. Another volunteer from last years group lives below me and my landlord lives in the house right in front of me. I am about a five minute walk from where I'll be working and either a 25 minute boat or bus ride to Georgetown. My village is a pretty good size and has a bank, post office, market and small grocery store as well as some small shops that sell snacks, drinks, and clothing. I will also be living right across the street from Chesters Fried Chicken resturant (like a KFC) which is the only place where women can go and have a drink (just beer) since the local rum shops or bars are only frequented by men. Definite bonus :) Oh, and my apartment has a room for my hammock (love that) and wireless internet is included in my rent. Overall, this place is nicer than the closet that barely passed for my place back in DC :)
And my job is even more exciting than my new apartment! I was assigned to work at West Demerara Hospital, which is the only major hospital in Region 3 and the 2nd largest public hospital in Guyana. My counterpart/mentor is the Assistant Hospital Administrator, Mr. Hira and he is pretty much in charge of hospital policy and making sure that the hospital runs as smoothly as possible on a day to day basis. My job at the hospital will be to work with Mr. Hira and the Regional Health Officer Dr Persuad (the guy in charge of every health center and hospital in region 3) to create and implment mental health policy in Guyana. Right now, like a lot of developing countries, there is no mental health policy in Guyana. There is no national policy or best practices in place to identify, treat, or prevent mental health or substance abuse issues. Suicide, depression, and substance abuse are extremely high in Guyana but they are not seen as health problems and often stigmatized so that people don't seek help. My job for the next 2 years will be to create a national policy on mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence and submit that to the Ministry of Health. No pressure or anything :) I am so so so so excited to get started on this. I know it will be a lot of work but being able to work on something like this, to actually develop working policy and possibly implement real change in Guyana is amazing.
I also have another secondary project to work on, in my spare time from creating national health policy (hilarious). Mr. Hira also wants me to work on creating a sanitation and hygiene policy for the hospital and work with the doctors, nurses, and other staff members to follow it. Right now, medical waste is disposed of with the regular trash, there is almost no concept of seperating out hazardous waste or bodliy fluid waste or even used needles. Everything gets lumped together and then dumped. I have witnessed red hazardous waste bags full of god knows what just sitting out in the open. I've seen nurses wear the same pair of disposable gloves to give injections to 3 different patients, without stopping to change the gloves or wash their hands. It is very disheartening to see such practices going on, especially when these are basic things that can be done very easily and have such a huge effect of health and disease control. So hopefully I will be able to put together a working policy on that and get the staff to understand why it is important to follow it and maintain it at all times.
My 3rd project ( not sure how long they think i'm going to be here) is to help in setting up the first and only electronic medical records system in the country. Right now every patients medical records are on paper and the system is ineffective and disorganized. West Demerara hospital is slowly moving towards putting all the information on computers and making it so that every health center can access the same medical records system. I will help out with gathering the information and inputting it into the system.
So that is my official job and site placement!!!! Everyone was so anxious and nervous to find out and they really made us wait until the last minute. I could not be more happy with my placement, it fits me perfectly and the location where I will be living is exactly what I wanted, an urban area on the coast close to other volunteers. It really is the perfect assignment :) I still have 3 more weeks of training so I don't officially start my job or move into my apartment until April but I am very excited to get started on what I know will be a challenging and rewarding 2 years. Love and miss you all, can't wait to start getting some letters from everyone!! (hint hint, my mom and dad have the address for you all)
Love,
Lindsay
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