WOTW team members Ruth & Dora
It is so wonderful to be back in Gulu! This is my second trip and there are many things that are familiar from last year, like the wonderful staff at the Churchill Courts where we stay, who take excellent care of us. But there are also many differences.
Last year’s trip was the initial training for Pre-referral Care If High Risk of PreTerm Birth. We were a group of 5 training about 30 people at once. This year, the training is focused on Point of Care Ultrasound. There are 9 of us on the American team, 5 of whom are trainers, and there are 10 trainees. This two-to-one trainee-to-trainer ratio is allowing for very effective teaching, but it is also giving us as the US team more opportunity to speak with each trainee one on one.
On training breaks and during van rides, there is lots of chatting and sharing about our families, our homes, our work. It is really nice to have the chance to get to know our Ugandan colleagues personally a bit more than last year.
Another focus of this trip is continued follow up on the implementation of training the VHTs. As part of that process, several of us, including myself, have been able to travel to the homes of some VHTs to meet them and their families and hear about their experiences. They are then taking us to visit with some of their clients to witness the work the VHTs are doing in the community.
Some are pregnant mothers, others are mothers with young children. The VHTs work with them on crucial things like prenatal nutrition, healthy balanced diets, and keeping up with regular antenatal care. Clients are provided with bed nets and taught how to reduce the risk of malaria, and what types of warning signs during pregnancy warrant a trip to a medical facility.
Once the babies are born, the mothers are supported in keeping up with a regular immunization schedule for their babies and provided other support they might need depending on their family situation.
Being welcomed into the homes of both the VHTs and the clients feels like an honor. Hearing their stories makes it clear that training the VHTs has directly increased the impact of Well On Their Way’s work. They are trusted members of the community with the ability to reach many families in their homes and guide them in their care.
A first-time pregnant mother, Agenonout Jenita, explained that she had not known it was important to attend antenatal care in the first trimester. Her VHT, Akello Scovia Dorah, encouraged her to do so, and she now attends her appointments regularly. She shared with us that she feels confident in her pregnancy because the education she receives at the facility is reinforced by Dorah. Having Dorah come to her home to review with her ensures that she won’t forget the information.
Another of Dorah’s clients, Akello Sofia, shared that she had been struggling with stress due to a difficult health situation after her son, Gen Jovan, was born. This caused her to fall behind on his immunizations. Dorah has guided her in getting him to the health facilities, and his vaccines are now current.
Meeting these people and witnessing the work they are doing has truly been a beautiful experience.