#WHWWeek: HEALTH WORKERS SPEAK @worldhealthworkerweek - Tumblr Blog

Working alone in his unit, Sahr Mortatay Momoh, a Mental Health Nurse, was deployed by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in 2014 as part of a group of 21 nurses trained in mental health and posted to each district in Sierra Leone. Sahr now runs the Western Area Rural District Mental Health Unit based in Jui, at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital on the outskirts of Freetown.

Mental health is severely underfunded and under-resourced in Sierra Leone. At the time of his posting, only less than two percent of patients with mental illness received the treatment they needed. But these challenges have not stopped Sahr’s dedication to his job and to helping to reduce treatment gaps.

Sahr’s story was originally shared on the Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) website. APC is a five-year project funded and managed by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360.

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“Even though training others in rehabilitation medicine can be extremely challenging and exhausting, it is worth it when I see patients improving their lives and functionality through rehabilitative treatment,” said Dr. Bouathep. “It is the best part of my work, and it is why I will continue to do this work for the rest of my life. I believe that rehabilitation medicine will only improve in Laos.”

Dr. Bouathep’s story was originally shared on the Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) website. APC is a five-year project funded and managed by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360.

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As a Client Advocate Associate with APC Guyana, Sir Paul serves as a source of patient support. He offers one-on-one educational sessions, group support sessions, and seeks out defaulted HIV positive clients in order to return them to HIV care and to support antiretroviral therapy adherence. Sir Paul states that homophobia within some communities still presents challenges, and often times it is the same communities that most need the benefits from services. Other challenges encountered include: helping newly diagnosed HIV positive clients to accept their test results, dealing with the various psychosocial issues that can be made worse by clients not having sufficient HIV education, and addressing common responses like shock, disbelief, denial, fear and anxiety, depression and guilt. “I tell them this is not the end of life and living, that there is treatment, and most importantly they will be supported throughout everything by me. I won’t leave them to face it all alone.”

Sir Paul’s story was originally shared on the Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) website. APC is a five-year project funded and managed by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360.

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“This work has been a lesson in humility for me. It has taught me to be more compassionate and to see the humanity in clients rather than judge their risky choices. I realize that many persons within the MSM community and even non-MSM persons look to me as a role model, so I always seek to live a healthy lifestyle. I am real, I don’t try to pretend that a sexually healthy lifestyle is easy, but I tell my clients, if I can change so can you.”

Shane’s journey in the world of HIV work began after attending an HIV education session in 2008. “I became a peer educator in 2008 after going to an HIV education session. The harsh reality of how my sexual choices were placing my life in jeopardy hit me. I realized my friends were engaging in the same risky behaviors and I wanted to help them change that.”

Today, Shane juggles reading for his degree in Social Work at the University of Guyana and the numerous responsibilities of a Client Advocate Associate (CAA) with the Advancing Partners & Communities project in Guyana.

Shane’s story was originally shared on the Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) website. APC is a five-year project funded and managed by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360.

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For Elizabeth, working as a health worker in the HIV arena is a lifelong commitment whether through paid work or volunteerism. Her deepest fulfillment comes from the satisfaction of seeing a client benefit from services. She says, for those clients who are HIV negative, services help them to remain as such, and for those clients who are HIV positive, the services send them down a positive life path. Elizabeth remembers a time when members of key populations could not access services because of stigma and discrimination, and did not even know how to offer support to one another. She is most proud that, because of her efforts, key populations have begun to take ownership of their health management with improved health-seeking behaviors. Access to services is easier and now there are various support groups for key populations and greater support within their communities. Elizabeth’s story was originally shared on the Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) website. APC is a five-year project funded and managed by USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health and implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., in partnership with FHI 360.

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“I think that one of the best ways that I can make a difference as a health worker, is tackle problems at the upstream level.”

“I have always wanted to make a different in my community, since I was young. And its why I decided to pursue medicine. But I want to have a greater impact by working at a policy level. I want to apply my passion for social justice and equity to health care.”

Read Abraham's story in full on Seed Global Health's webpage.

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“In my position as the first director of a comprehensive health center in Jordan, the second largest health center in the Kingdom, I faced many obstacles as a woman. But I succeeded by working with the staff of the center as a member of the team, not just as their manager. The supportive supervision course I received from HRH2030 helped me distinguish the difference between being a leader and a manager. And I realized I was more of a leader. Applying the principles of leadership [learned at the supportive supervision training] to my management of the health center team, I helped to create a sense of ownership and belonging among staff. And when staffs are happier and motivated they provide better care.”

--Dr. Mervat, Princess Basma Comprehensive Health Center Manage

Contributed by Chemonics International

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“We are saving lives,” says Agnes Mana, chief officer for health in Turkana County, Kenya.

For the past 50 years, Kenya and USAID have invested heavily in the country’s health system. And the effects of those investments are clear in previously neglected areas like Turkana.

Since 2013, the county has reduced the distance between health facilities from 50 to 20 kilometers by converting 39 dispensaries into health centers, and building and equipping 90 new dispensaries. Now more people have access to health care and medicines closer to their homes.

More health workers have been recruited to staff the facilities. Using an incentives framework, county officials attracted 309 new health workers, including 43 more doctors. Another 416 health workers are awaiting county public service approval for recruitment.

“Our people are happy,” says Agnes. “And it’s saving the county on referrals.”

Photo by Wycliffe Omanya for IntraHealth International.

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“I believe pharmacy will help me to understand many drugs, how they work as well as their effects,” says Kenyan pharmacy student Imelda Achieng. “But I also hope I can eventually work in a large pharmaceutical company and discover a cure for HIV that I can give my mum.”

Now Imelda will be able to finish school, thanks to a low-interest student loan through the Afya Elimu Fund. Read her story on VITAL, the blog of IntraHealth International: Imelda Achieng Wants to Find a Cure for HIV for Her Mum

Photos by Peter Abwao for IntraHealth International.

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“My mother told me to focus on my books and be like other kids who are not HIV positive,” says Loide Iikuyu (left), a young woman in Namibia whose mother—also named Loide—is a community health worker. “She encouraged me, and said ‘Don’t be afraid.’”

The elder Loide (right) sits with her two daughters at Onandjokwe Hospital as she tells us about her work. Her daughter Loide is 18. The other—little Selma—is 4. Both share their mother’s air of calm and her quiet voice. But only Loide shares her mother’s HIV-positive status.

Read their story on VITAL, the blog of IntraHealth International: One Family’s Quiet Quest for Namibia’s HIV-Free Generation

Photos by Morgana Wingard for IntraHealth International.

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Partnership is key to success! Health care workers at a health center III in southwestern Uganda rely on the support of their colleagues to deliver quality services to their community. From immunizations and neonatal care, to family planning and malaria prevention, these nurses and clinical officers are on the frontline of health care delivery and supporting them is essential to building strong and resilient health systems. In Uganda, Jhpiego implements innovative capacity building approaches to help frontline health workers improve health outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of care.

Contributed by Jhpiego.

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Hope is a nurse and a district trainer in Ntungamo district in southwestern Uganda. As a district trainer, she serves as a mentor to other nurses and midwives in her district. She leads continuing medical education sessions, works one-on-one to help improve data collection processes and helps facilities identify areas for improvement.

Hope is a frontline health worker who is committed to ensuring all men, women and children in Ntungamo have access to quality primary healthcare services.

In partnership with Jhpiego, Hope is working with other health providers in her district to improve their capacity to deliver long-acting reversible contraceptive methods.

Contributed by Jhpiego.

“I moved to Karamoja 30 years ago to serve the community. I have been shot five times during past times of conflict in the region. So I am wondering: where is my reward?” – Sister Jane Margaret Atai, Tokora Health Center IV, Nakapiripirit District. Jane asked this question of IntraHealth’s SHRH Uganda team during a rollout of attendance tracking to her district. Asked with a big smile, Jane's question indicated her radiating positivity despite her trials and her sense of duty and purpose in serving her community. Although health workers like Jane may find their reward in their service, there is so much more to do to strengthen systems around them and truly reward them for their work. Contributed by Ben Pyne, IntraHealth International/Uganda.

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Matovu Zachariah Jamil is a VMMC champion and health worker hero in Uganda. “Every life matters. We need to make every possible effort to ensure that all people who are not circumcised do so and reduce their chance of contracting HIV/AIDS or passing it on to their partners.” Read his story here

In December, 2016, Jamil Zachariah Matovu was recognized as a 2016 PEPFAR HERO for his outstanding work in the fight against HIV in Uganda. US ambassador H.E Deborah Malac presented the awards to the honorees.

Contributed by University Research Co., LLC.

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Socorro Austria, Norma Abella and Rose Estrada visit far-flung communities in the Philippines to deliver health information and services. Without these three health worker heroes, families in these remote villages would have little—or no—access to the care they need. Security threats, long distances, and a lack of resources conspire to make transportation to a health facility near impossible for these communities – but Socorro, Norma and Rose come to them to ensure their health needs are met!

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“By providing high-quality care with enthusiasm and empathy, health workers save lives every single day.”

- Cheick Touré, IntraHealth International’s country director in Mali

Cheick (left) should know. He leads IntraHealth’s work supporting health workers in Mali, and also has over ten years of experience as a reproductive health provider and master trainer!

Photo courtesy of Cheick Touré.

This photo was originally shared on IntraHealth’s Picture It photo blog.

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“I love health workers because they live and work IN and FOR their communities.”

- Ramatou Konaté (far right), midwife and IntraHealth International’s head of clinical training in Mali

Photo courtesy of Ramatou Konaté.

This photo was originally shared on IntraHealth’s Picture It photo blog

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#WHWWeek: HEALTH WORKERS SPEAK