A NOTE ON WORK

So one question I’ve gotten from a few of you is, “So now I now a lot about your introduction to Malian culture, but what about all that healthcare outreach business you kept talking about all Spring?” As it turns out, the answer to that question is simultaneously difficult to answer and answerable in two words: very little. Since I’ve been in Bamako, I haven’t been having the daily meetings and tight schedule I had anticipated before leaving in order to get this project done. I thought this internship would be something along the lines of coming to Bamako meeting with the trained local professionals (e.g. statisticians, doctors, nurses) to find out the actual healthcare situation and then using this information to create a sustainable healthcare system. As it turns out, it is really only our job to use our respected social position as toubabous to collect information and bring it to the CHAG, who then makes any important decisions and does all the necessary work to launch the program. We meet with professional people (most of which we have already met with) to determine what the community should need based on recent reports then meld this information with the first-hand knowledge of the CHAG to create a new outreach program that serves the community best.


Consequently, all of the work required to design the peer health education cards that the CHAG uses in their training sessions are designed by the CHAG members themselves, as is most of the text, though we provide the scientific facts from health manuals. They decide everything from what should go on a poster to advertise the new clinic site to how to conduct a new survey in the community – our only job is to facilitate their work as a community-based think tank. Let me say, as a control freak, it is hard to have a job where I get to make none of the decisions; however, I am also entirely in favor of this arrangement so the program can run independently of our presence as Western “leaders”. As frustrating as it is to feel like I am doing nothing, it is actually the best possible outcome, since the program is still moving forward and it’s due entirely to the CHAG’s hard work.


In concrete terms, one project we are working on this summer is evaluating the current education program, which cannot be done by the CHAG in order to avoid self-biases. We are looking at how effective the current education materials are at getting people from information (e.g. mosquitoes transmit malaria) to actions that can prevent diseases (e.g. using a treated mosquito net every night). This survey has already been designed and is being conducted starting tomorrow. Aside from that, we are just keeping on keeping on and enjoying watching the CHAG do its thing. And honestly, after three weeks of confusion not knowing how I was supposed to be making a difference, it’s nice to finally realize that seeing the CHAG be productive IS being productive.


All that having been said, I have now come to terms with the fact that this summer will not result in a final product. I have a few select concrete tasks to perform to make this project work, but I will not see this project be resolved before I leave. So… I’m just taking this summer as a cultural immersion experience in Mali. I’m walking around the neighborhoods, practicing my Bambara, going hiking, and traveling. As long as the CHAG is getting their work done, I’m getting my work done. And it’s really nice to have that pressure-cooker top off of this entire experience. FINALLY!


So to all of you who wanted to know exactly what I’ve been up to, I hope this helped some. I know it may just sound like I said, “I’m supervising.” But I think that maybe that’s not a bad analogy and even if I didn’t know I was signing up for it, I did. It’s a strange experience and a great one, despite all of its frustrations from time to time. And I’m glad I’m here to experience it all.


P.S. If you have specific questions about the project, just let me know – I have purposely steered clear of details so as not to bore a mixed audience. Some of you want to know about the project and some of you just want to know I’m alive and happy. I’m eager to answer questions from any audience members. ☺


X Adama X