Learning about HIV/AIDS

After a successful community-wide discussion, Dr. Moustapha Sy shakes hands with the village of Balori's community health worker.

Learning about HIV / AIDS

On November 22nd Annarita, Emily, and the social worker of the health district of Saraya, Dr Moustapha Sy, visited the village of Balori, which is located about 25 kilometers south of Saraya and reachable only via ‘bush path’. In this small, isolated village KCHP organized a causerie, an informal discussion the aim of which is to share knowledge and understanding of a specific topic. Thanks to translation skills of Batouna Diaby, a student from Balori attending the lycée of Saraya, the French speaking team was able to have an informative and lively discussion about HIV/AIDS with the Malinké speaking population of Balori. The one classroom school that hosted the event was packed with over half of Balori’s population, and included men, women, youth and religious leaders. During the causerie, KCHP staff discussed HIV/AIDS as a state of ill-health, ensuring that everyone present had an understanding of the virus as a debilitating condition that not only impacts one’s health and well-being but if left untreated, can have life threatening consequences.

In some of the remote villages in the district of Saraya, the dissemination of public health information is often available only through weekly radio broadcasts, making access to adequate information about health issues difficult to obtain. KCHP carefully explained the consequences of HIV/AIDS infection and the different ways in which the illness can be contracted, with emphasis on gaining favor of protected sex from elder community members. KCHP was also able to examine the misconception that women are most often responsible for spreading the infection. The belief was discussed underlining how the men in the village, many of whom are migrant workers, may leave Balori for an extended period of time, increasing their chances of contracting the virus and ultimately bring it back to the village. The importance of using protection during extra-marital or pre-marital sex was strongly emphasized and everyone became familiar with the possibility of accessing condoms through their local health workers. Once the risks of infection were identified with the community, a discussion of antiretroviral therapy and the possibility of living with the virus through early detection and treatment, ensued. Due to the informative and interactive discussion, KCHP staff was able to introduce the importance of dépistage volontaire (voluntary HIV/AIDS testing), which allows community members to be aware of their HIV status.

Everyone in attendance was enthusiastic and thankful to KCHP for coming to Balori to share both time and knowledge with the community. Despite the serious nature of the topic, the causerie participants enjoyed the discussion, thereby facilitating an open and encouraging learning environment. KCHP managed to establish a rapport with local authorities, including the chef du village (head of the village), the Imam, and the local health worker. The population showed an interest in becoming involved in future KCHP events, displaying genuine trust in the organization’s concern for their health and well-being. KCHP is currently planning another visit to Balori, in order to host a dépistage volontaire in the remote but positive and receptive community.

Batouna Diaby, a student from Balori attending the lycée of Saraya, helps to collects names of attendees.

Posted by Annarita

During a November 13 vaccination campaign in the village of Douta, the District of Saraya's mobile vaccination team leader, Celle Diame, administers a vaccine.

KCHP Project Manager Annarita Imbucci weighs a sleepy infant

as his mother stands close in the village of Mandankholing.

Where we work: Samecouta, Wassangra and Bransan

Children in the village of Samecouta.

Village of Saraya Community Health Worker Alamuta (seated) and I at work at our makeshift pharmacy in the village of Wassangra.

In the village of Bransan, we set up our pharmacy on an unused hospital bed under the shade of an old Baobab tree.

The village of Noumoufoukha welcomes the medical team

On the first day of the camp, the medical team was welcomed by a traditional song and dance ceremony in the village of Noumoufoukha.

Activity Update: KCHP takes part in free health care initiative

KCHP's co-founder, Dr. Youssoupha Ndiaye and Senegal Program Manager, Emily Dally, took part in a ten day medical camp, visiting 16 villages in the southeastern region of Saraya, Senegal.

The medical camp, sponsored by ArcelorMittal, was held from October 9th to the 18th as a part of the company's efforts to give back to the communities in which they work. Dr. Ndiaye, Saraya's Médecin Chef du District (the district's medical chief) acted as the coordinator for the camp, rounding up a team of medical specialists from the district of Saraya and as far away as Dakar.

The team, comprised of seven Senegalese physicians, two midwives, two nurses and two pharmacologists, visited the most rural and inaccessible villages in the region, where oftentimes citizens go for months without medical care, as the nearest Centre de Santé (health center) is miles away in a place where the most popular and accessible mode of transport is by bicycle.

KCHP Student Practicum Program 2010

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3. The KCHP's Student Practicum Program offers the opportunity to work on sustainable development and community health in southeastern Senegal. The program is based in Saraya, an isolated, resource-poor area that was recently established as a new health district by the Senegalese Ministry of Health in 2006. The health staff in Saraya is currently limited to 1 doctor, 1 midwife, 2 nurses, and 6 assistant nurses. The district health facilities consist of one health center and six outlying health posts. The population in this district is estimated at over 34,000 people with a density of approximately 7 persons per km2 and the majority of the inhabitants are peasant farmers who grow cotton, millet, corn, and peanuts. Besides farming, the inhabitants of Saraya also pan for gold in small transient villages (Diouras), and international mining companies have a growing presence in this district as well. The main language is Malinké, but Pulaar and Wolof are also spoken, and the primary language used at the health centre and the surrounding health posts is French.

About KCHP

Basic Definition

The KCHP is a community-based organization that is a partnership between local communities, medical students and the government district health team in Saraya, Southeastern Senegal.

Mission

Our mission is based on the belief that the most effective way to improve primary health care in underserved areas in Senegal is to build on the capacity of both the government health services and of local communities. We believe that this is not only the best way to achieve sustainability, but also is the most efficient means to provide and or improve primary health care in under-served areas.

Activities

Our primary focus is to improve maternal and child health. This is accomplished through health education, infrastructural improvement of government health facilities, community nutrition and sanitation programs, and infectious disease initiatives. For more information about these initiatives, visit our WHAT WE DO page.

History

The KCHP was founded in 2006 by Dr Youssoupha Ndiaye, a Senegalese physician working in southeastern Senegal; Graham Gibson, a British social activist; and Demetri Blanas, an American medical student. Initially focusing on coordinating donations of medical equipment to health clinics, it has expanded to include the installation of solar power in health facilities, health education, maternal and infant mortality reduction initiatives, and support for the district health team mobile clinic.

Staff

Chief Medical Officer: Dr Youssoupha Ndiaye

youssoupha.ndiaye@kendeya-chp.org

President: Demetri Blanas

blanas.demetri@kendeya-chp.org

Vice President: Francesca Okolie

fao2105@columbia.edu

Treasurer: Darren Wayne Jackson II

dwj2105@columbia.edu

Senegal Project Managers: Emily Dally & Annarita Imbucci

emilyi.dally@kendeya-chp.org, annarita.imbucci@kendeya-chp.org

Board

Dr Youssoupha Ndiaye

Carolyn Bancroft

Kelenne Tuitt

Francesca Okolie

Demetri Blanas

Darren Wayne Jackson II

Staff Contacts:

Student Practicum Coordinator: Bamba Diop

bamba.dio@cphsd.org

Student Practicum Contact: Emily Dally

emilyi.dally@kendeya-chp.org