Not every mission is going to make the headlines in national news, but our trip to Ethiopia uncovered important information for future missions of any volunteer organization providing health services in Ethiopia.
Physicians for Peace (PFP) is working with Family Health International (FHI) to assess how to better utilize volunteers in community outreach training programs. A team of two medical volunteers, Peg Matsen, a Public Health nurse from Delaware and Evelyn Tomaszewski, with the National Association of Social Workers, left on Saturday for a fact finding mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their mission objective is to visit FHI programs and then identify needs that can be met through current Physicians for Peace programs - in particular, focusing on maternal and child health and an overall objective of incorporating volunteers.
Peg and Evelyn arrived in Addis Ababa and are texting us to say that all has gone off to a good start. Here is a synopsis of their recent report:
"The mission is significant to us both for our partnership with Family Health International as well for its incorporating social workers.
Returning to Ethiopia after 5 years, I see much improvement in society structure here. I know the "nurses" assigned to programs here are expected to handle everything. But I see with the Social Workers being graduated from the Addis Ababa University here that social work can now be more fully expanded, strengthen, and utilized.
We were met at the main office of HIV/AIDS Prevention Care & Support Organization (HAPSCO) by more than ten nurse supervisors and four Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) officers and the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) program coordinator, Ato Tadios, and as a group, had a discussion about their work and what trainings in psycho-social issues they would find most helpful. They shared great ideas and issues most relevant to them at this time:
• conflict resolution
• communication skills
• counseling techniques
• depression and anxiety for those living w/ HIV / AIDS
• child counseling for those who have lost parents
• child development and stages thru age 18 yrs
• reducing burnout
• evaluating and measuring success
• concept of volunteerism
At the end of our session/discussion, a member spokesperson expressed their deep gratitude for all the help you have provided to them. It was the biggest heart felt "Thank You" I have heard in a long time. You [Physicians for Peace] are a great leader and your staff and beneficiaries feel your understanding of their work and greatly appreciate your technical support."
This social work initiative here in Ethiopia has great possibilities and the social work trainings proposed through FHI and PFP collaboration will make a difference in how these services can be provided. We will keep you posted on this fact finding mission.
Powered by Compendium Blogware
Comments for Utilizing Social Work for Future Missions