Friends,
Yesterday afternoon the discussion turned to water purification. Harvey introduced a video from the SODIS organization which I had made work on the local computer. After the video, Harvey demonstrated the SODIS process again and then discussion began. In brief, the process involves sterilization of water through 6 hours of exposure to intense sunlight in closed, transparent, 1.5 or 2 liter bottles.
The discussion was very interesting. The students inquired about all aspects of the process and water handling in general. "Can any water be used for the SODIS process?" (No - water containing poisons must not be used and dirty water must be strained through cloth until it is clear) "Could the purified water be transferred to a larger storage bottle?" (No, not safely) "How long could th
e purified water be kept?" (Three days if opened - otherwise indefinitely) "Could the bottles be set in the sun anywhere?" (No, only on light-colored surfaces - but corrigated tin roofing is the best) "How many bottles are needed to handle the needs of a single person?" (Four, two for drinking that day - and refilling at the end of the day - and two that are on the tin roofing for tomorrow's use). "Is this the best means to purify water?" (No, boiling water is the best - but the SODIS approach is virtually as safe without the labor of finding and burning wood)
We asked questions, too. "Do the villages currently use any water purification processes?" (Only boiling) "Do the students believe that the SODIS process could be adopted by their villages? (Yes) "What problems do you foresee?" (Where could we get all the bottles?)
This sort of discussion is key to the community health worker education process because it confirms understanding while potentially revealing other aspects of village life that should be covered in the training.
The balance of the afternoon was devoted to mental health issues. Karen and Jane teamed to lead a discussion and present a skit about recognizing emotional/mood problems. Jane asked if there were emotional problems and how people were treated. In fact, villages do have instances of persons leaving to extended care elsewhere for mental health issues and then returning (or not). When Jane asked if suicide was known in the villages, the conversation became quite wide-ranging and serious. Yes, suicide is known and is most often connected with economic problems. Several students related sad stories of individuals who were evicted from living quarters and hung themselves (the most common means of suicide since guns are almost unknown). There were also stories of persons who seemed happy and rich - but were found dead by their own hand. Jane asked how help for these persons might have changed things and the students had many ideas and stories about persons who were helped by the community. So, simple recognition of problems appears to be most important.
Once again, we had a post-class meeting to discuss what went well and what didn't.
Today, the focus will be on nutrition, safe food preparation, and the use of felt boards for explaining these issues to others. Janet will lead the presentation of information and discussion (we even had someone shop for some food items for the demonstration). We will then break up into four groups (each with a translator) to allow each student to make a five-minute presentation on nutrition. At the end of the day, Harvey will lead instruction on Tippy Tap hand washing stations - including time for the students to build their own from materials on hand here.
-- Tom
Yesterday afternoon the discussion turned to water purification. Harvey introduced a video from the SODIS organization which I had made work on the local computer. After the video, Harvey demonstrated the SODIS process again and then discussion began. In brief, the process involves sterilization of water through 6 hours of exposure to intense sunlight in closed, transparent, 1.5 or 2 liter bottles.
The discussion was very interesting. The students inquired about all aspects of the process and water handling in general. "Can any water be used for the SODIS process?" (No - water containing poisons must not be used and dirty water must be strained through cloth until it is clear) "Could the purified water be transferred to a larger storage bottle?" (No, not safely) "How long could th
e purified water be kept?" (Three days if opened - otherwise indefinitely) "Could the bottles be set in the sun anywhere?" (No, only on light-colored surfaces - but corrigated tin roofing is the best) "How many bottles are needed to handle the needs of a single person?" (Four, two for drinking that day - and refilling at the end of the day - and two that are on the tin roofing for tomorrow's use). "Is this the best means to purify water?" (No, boiling water is the best - but the SODIS approach is virtually as safe without the labor of finding and burning wood)We asked questions, too. "Do the villages currently use any water purification processes?" (Only boiling) "Do the students believe that the SODIS process could be adopted by their villages? (Yes) "What problems do you foresee?" (Where could we get all the bottles?)
This sort of discussion is key to the community health worker education process because it confirms understanding while potentially revealing other aspects of village life that should be covered in the training.
The balance of the afternoon was devoted to mental health issues. Karen and Jane teamed to lead a discussion and present a skit about recognizing emotional/mood problems. Jane asked if there were emotional problems and how people were treated. In fact, villages do have instances of persons leaving to extended care elsewhere for mental health issues and then returning (or not). When Jane asked if suicide was known in the villages, the conversation became quite wide-ranging and serious. Yes, suicide is known and is most often connected with economic problems. Several students related sad stories of individuals who were evicted from living quarters and hung themselves (the most common means of suicide since guns are almost unknown). There were also stories of persons who seemed happy and rich - but were found dead by their own hand. Jane asked how help for these persons might have changed things and the students had many ideas and stories about persons who were helped by the community. So, simple recognition of problems appears to be most important.
Once again, we had a post-class meeting to discuss what went well and what didn't.
Today, the focus will be on nutrition, safe food preparation, and the use of felt boards for explaining these issues to others. Janet will lead the presentation of information and discussion (we even had someone shop for some food items for the demonstration). We will then break up into four groups (each with a translator) to allow each student to make a five-minute presentation on nutrition. At the end of the day, Harvey will lead instruction on Tippy Tap hand washing stations - including time for the students to build their own from materials on hand here.
-- Tom
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