UMVIM Community Based Health Training: Panama to Senegal

In order for a short-term VIM Teams to leave a legacy of empowerment and sustained impact behind, many groups are integrating a health education component into their activities.  For example, in 2006, a group of Panama bound United Methodist Volunteer in mission health professionals and helpers began adding simple health education videos and games to their outpatient medical and dental services.  These activities sparked an interest locally in providing a village health promoter training course.

The UMVIM team returned home and developed a 3 part curriculum  to educate local health workers.  United Methodist Missionary, Rhett Thompson presented the curriculum and supporting education materials to the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Panama Ministry of Health.  The program was endorsed by them and a dietitian staff member was dispatched to assist with the UMVIM team's implementation of the course. In the Spring of 2008 the first group of 13 students were recruited and the course initiated.  In March, 2009 the class received certificates of completion and now hold bi-monthly meetings to continue their learning activities.

Team prepares notebooks for students          Pictures for student flannel boards

Members of the Panama UMVIM Team have been invited by United Methodist missionaries Paul and Kittie Messer to start a similar program in Dakar, Senegal. Dr. Carol Meynen and nurses Janet Ross and Jane Dunn will be accompanied by their husbands Tom Board, Harvey Ross, Richard Dunn and beading instructors, Melinda and Karen Schweis.  While in Senegal, the group plans to use a "train the trainer" model so that resident physician Dr. Aly Bashir and the Messers can fully implement and supervise the program after the team's departure.  The group leaves for Senegal on January 7, and will return on January 16, 2010.

Follow the Senegal Health Education Team on their blog http://ncjvimhealth4senegal.blogspot.com/.  A link to the blog can be found in the left hand column.