It’s been a while since my last post because, surprisingly, I’ve been busy! Apart from getting to know my village, painting a mural in my room (pictured above), learning Pulaar, and going to the health hut, I’ve also started some primary and secondary projects, which means I’m officially doing actual Peace Corps work!
My primary sector is health, which means most of the work that I do for the next two years will likely focus on something health related: exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing, healthy eating, and disease prevention are just some of the topics my primary work could address. Recently, my primary sector work has focused on malaria prevention. It’s the beginning of rainy season here, which also marks the beginning of malaria season.
Fortunately for most of you reading this blog, malaria has been eradicated in the United States. Unfortunately, in Senegal and many other parts of the world, that’s not the case. Across the globe, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds, and about 90% of malaria cases are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the disease, here’s a basic rundown: A person has some malaria parasites in their blood. A mosquito bites that individual, then becoming an infected mosquito. That mosquito then bites another, healthy human and they become infected. Both infected mosquitoes and humans are needed to keep the cycle going. Seems pretty straight forward, right? Also, it seems totally preventable. Because it is.
Being infected with malaria doesn’t automatically mean you’ll die, or even show symptoms. Your body is able to cope with a small amount of the parasite, but without medication to keep the parasite count low, it will eventually multiply and make you sick. This means one (theoretical) way to prevent malaria is to provide everyone with medicine until the infected mosquitoes die out. If everyone world wide was treated for malaria for one month, malaria would be completely eradicated.
Treating everyone may seem a little unrealistic, but there are other ways to help stop the spread of malaria. Sleeping under a bed net here significantly reduces cases, because the mosquitoes that transfer malaria usually bite between dusk and dawn. Seeking care as soon as the symptoms of malaria arrive is important to stop the cycle early and prevent others in your area from being infected. And, while it may seem obvious, educating people about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of malaria helps to keep communities actively involved in their health and well being. I recently worked to educate people about malaria by painting a mural and hosting a health talk.
One of the great things about Peace Corps work is the flexibility. We’re encouraged to take on “secondary projects” that don’t fall into our primary sector work. As my service continues, I’ll work with English clubs, agriculture and economic development volunteers, and women’s groups in my village. I’m also implementing the Michele Sylvester Scholarship at a local middle school. As a part of the Let Girls Learn initiative, the scholarship provides school fees for high achieving girls. This allows them to stay in school when financial and societal pressures might otherwise cut their education short. Look out for a link where you can donate to help girls like Aisata soon!
Thanks for reading! As always, your comments and questions are more than welcome. Here’s one more picture of the awesome girls in my village:
Hey Hannah! Looks like you’re really getting in to it😄Thank you for what you are doing and sending your blog so we can keep up. I know I told you Jen and Michele were best friends. It’s great to see her legacy continue. Can’t wait to get back in January . We just got our Threshing machine from India. Only prob is it is not assembled 😂Lol. Take care of yourself and you can always call Aida if you need something. She would love to be of assistance. I think I gave you her number. Blessings Candler
Hi Candler!
It’s awesome to know that Michele’s legacy is still continuing to impact hundreds of girls every year, and I’m honored to be a part of it! Let me know when in January you’ll be visiting and where you’ll be. I’m a little more comfortable here now and I might be able to come visit or help out (although I don’t know anything about assembling threshing machines 🙂 )
Thank you so much for keeping up with my service – it means a lot!
Hi, cutie pie. Another home run with the blog post! Love the murals, especially the one in your room. What are the other things in your room? I recognize the chair (duh!) but what’s in the pots and is that a water purifier next to the chair?
Hope you are doing well. You seem to be quite happy. So glad.
Love you sooooo much!
Aunt Linda
Hi Linda! In my room I have a water filter (the metal contraption in the middle) and a clay pot (called a londe) that uses evaporation to cool down water. The rest of the “decorations” are just buckets, which make great storage because they keep out bugs, mice, and dust! My room also has a chalkboard calendar and a map of my town on other walls, as well as a small bookcase, a mirror, and two large trunks for storage.
Love you too, hope everything is going well back in the states!
Great post! I learned some things about malaria and I’m proud of your work.
What goes on in the health hut? Is it clinical work or mostly consultation?
And most importantly, what is Aisata listening to?
Love you and miss you so much.
It’s mostly consultations, but because health structures can be very far away from people’s homes, it serves whatever purpose the people who show up need. We have a room designated for prenatal care which is also used as a maternity ward, and I’ve seen people receive some advanced first aid as well (splinting, caring for stitches).
Aisata’s headphones aren’t actually plugged in to anything in this photo, but she loves Senegalese pop music!
Love you too! Can’t wait for you to come visit!
Hey, Hannah – Looks like you’re really getting into PC lifestyle! The mural in your room and the malaria mural are both very impressive. Who knew you had such artistic talents? Where did you paint the malaria mural? At the Health Hut? Do you and your host family sleep with nets? I know you sleep outside on the ground, so I’m just wondering how that works.
When I was a PC volunteer, I was able to get a lot of reading done. Is it the same for you? What good books have you read lately?
As always, I’m so proud of you. And happy for you, too, because I know from experience that being a PC volunteer will change you life, as well as the lives of those you meet over these two years. Keep up the good work, and keep writing those blog posts!
Love you,
Charna
Hi Charna! Yes, the malaria mural is on a wall at my health hut. My family (and my community as a whole) is pretty good about sleeping under nets every night, but consistent reminders are important to encourage good behaviors! I sleep on a mattress on top of a mat, and hang my mosquito net above my mattress with rope.
I have been reading a lot! I’ve already finished the Stephen King series The Dark Tower, I Am Malala, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and The Alchemist. Book suggestions are always welcome, and if you send me kindle files I can download them here!
Love you too!
These blog posts inspire and uplift me so much when I read them, and they confirm what I already knew: That you are the most amazing person I know! It’s awesome to see how much you’ve accomplished in such a (relatively) short amount of time and I hope your experiences continue to be as joyful and fulfilling as they seem to be right now.
Miss you lots and keep making us proud
-Steven
PS: When did you get so good at art??
Thank you so much, Steven!! I have no idea where this sudden burst of artistic talent came from, but I plan on using it out for as long as possible! Love you lots!