CHW Graduation day

Today did not get off to a good start. As we were preparing to leave the guesthouse, two men on a motor scooter drove past and snatched Katie's fanny pack. It was so fast we were stunned,but Charissa and a passerby chased after them. Unfortunately they escaped. We were thankful Kathe was not hurt but lost her cellphone, her credit cards and and fair amount of money. Our hosts at EMUS and all the others said this never happens in Nord Foire neighborhood and they were devastated. Gaspard said we were certainly targeted as foreigners and also because we were all women. (Jim had left early with Catherine).

Kathe recovered after talking with her husband Mark, who would notify the appropriate institutions and we continued our day. We had a brief review of the week's material, then invited the women from the Women's Skills Center to be the CHWS first trainees. Our CHWS did a fantastic job teaching both adult and infant CPR and Heimlich maneuver and we judged that they were in fact ready for Prime Time.

After lunch, each group of three CHWS presented their skit for demonstrating their share of the skill set to great applause.  Finally we had our closing ceremony with certificates, prayers, heartfelt thanks all around, and lots and lots of photos.  Valerie told them she and Paulette could come to their village with the manikins if they organized a CPR training. I am confident that several of them will do so.

The CHWS then gave me a list of topics they would like to cover on our next visit, ranging from hypertension to cervical cancer to tetanus! It was quite a tall order!

Our team was very moved by the gratitude of our students and the entire experience of doing the training.  It has been a challenging week, with many "ups and downs" but I believe everyone considers it a rousing success. Twenty five people in Dakar and Theis can now be first responders and if even one life is saved (and I believe it likely that we will hear of one before we return next year) it will have been worth the trip.

CAM