Smiling Through the Mud
In my position with the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Malawi, I focus on how we can make sure that HIV-exposed infants are quickly and accurately diagnosed and, if necessary, initiated on treatment – a process known as Early Infant Diagnosis (EID). That doesn’t sound too hard, eh? Unfortunately, it’s a very complicated process with […]
Defining “community” across borders
The Global Health Corps experience, and life in rural Burundi specifically, has strengthened my personal value of the idea of “community.” An email I received from a friend recently that said “may you be surrounded by much protection while outside the reach of enfolding arms” made me realize just how much. I was happy to […]
G5P4 EMO EV4
“Imihini mishya itera amabavu” is a saying which informs and affirms individuals undergoing new experiences. It promises that whatever their challenges may be, they are just a step in an induction process, preceding new escalations. Such is a close description of my primary experience when I first sat in a weekly team that reviewed […]
Power of African Mothers
Most of the times we forget the role of African women in global health. I have come to believe that they are the solution we need to avert the rampant problems we are facing. In December, 2004, I was diagnosed with Nephritis, pending surgery at one of the major hospitals in Lilongwe district. I was […]
Hurricane Sandy
I’m working for Single Stop USA, an amazing organization that connects low income individuals to public benefits that they are entitled to, but may not know about. I haven’t been working on the ground, but instead on the 5th floor in an office building. I have learned a lot of amazing things so far, but […]
The Lingo
Around this time of year, a number of GHC fellows travel home. Regardless of the destination, it’s likely a few phrases we’ve picked up won’t make much sense to the folks at home. Certainly we now know a few sayings in the local language, but what I find even more fascinating are the English phrases […]