Remember that one time that ACRONYMS ruled my life (RTOTTARML)?
I don’t pretend to think of this as a new phenomenon, pretty much every field, every office, every demographic has their own lingo and jargon, often riddled with acronyms to make things easier. One of my favorites is one that our colleagues in this year’s fellow class have to spout quite regularly I imagine, our Ugandan counterparts working with the United States Agency for International Development’s Strengthening Decentralization for Sustainability program. Haha, can you imagine if someone asked you where you worked, and literally without even saying what your job title, position or responsibilities were your answer was:
“I work for the Strengthening Decentralization for Sustainability program of the United States Agency for International Development.”
Sounds awful. Our friends simply say, “We’re with USAID’s SDS program.” Silly.
Okay, so maybe it wouldn’t be my favorite if it were mine to say. I do, however, encounter so many acronyms on a day to day basis I can sort of feel their pain. At Access Project (AP) I have three primary responsibilities, I oversee all of Access’ MCH, SMS and ICB programming, with an intended supportive role in Access’ M&E department. Our primary evaluation tool for how the Health Centers (HCs) in our districts are performing is called the AMET. See where this is going? I work on these programs in conjunction with other partners, including UNICEF and MOH, and we implement and train health professionals to more effectively use systems such as; HMIS, SISCOM, HSSPIII, PMIS, etc. I am one of four GHC fellows at Access, and collaborate and/or socialize with other GHC fellows working at organizations like GHI, PIH, CHAI and HPA. This is getting ridiculous.
Ironically, the only thing that DOESN’T (capitalized for emphasis, not an acronym) stand for something else, is “Access Project”, unless you see it as AP of course, though that’s not very common. Our typical lingo is just Access, sometimes you see it capitalized, but don’t worry, it doesn’t mean Awkward Crying Children Eating Spicy Sausage or something like that. We’re just Access, and I’m ok with that.
Ok, so for serious, I don’t expect you to know these acronyms, nor do I intend to explain them. Just know that MJIA (my job is awesome) and YSBJ (you should be jealous) and GHCRMS (GHC rocks my socks).
Photo cred to my GHC classmate Kat McGee