Last weekend, we celebrated a great milestone in our work to establish HHI’s international programs: the end of our community health workers training course.  The last eight months since we started the course have been an incredible learning process, and while this is really only the end of the first step, it was worth the celebration.  About sixty friends, family members, and community partners were there to honor our sixteen first-ever cooperadores de salud, and the beginning of their roles as promoters, providers, and leaders in health in their communities.

After a delicious lunch of rice, beans, chicken, and salad – cooked by the two wonderful women of the Rancho Típico Montellano, a local restaurant/bar/club/carwash (a common combo in the DR) that we rented out for the afternoon – Angi, Jon, Dana and I welcomed the guests. I was glad that so many community members were there to hear more about HHI and the cooperadores program.  The more individuals that understand and are engaged in our work, the better and more effectively our programs will be able to serve their communities.  Angi then said a few words to remind everyone of the value of service and the power to create change – themes that we continually highlighted throughout training.

The cooperadores then stood an recited the Community Health Workers Oath:

“With my family and my community as witnesses, I promise to be an honorable, fair, and kind community health worker.  I will use my knowledge and resources for the benefit of my entire community.  I will treat others with compassion and patience.  I will work together with my community and with HHI. I will fulfill the responsibilities of a community health worker and dedicate myself to improving community health. I will do this work out of my own will, from my heart, for the love of God and the world.”

Thanks to generous donations of first-aid supplies, stethoscopes, and blood pressure cuffs from Covidien, McKesson, Deb & Cris Freitas, and this year’s medical service trip participants, we were able to provide each cooperador with a certificate and first-aid kit.  As a side note, Angi bought out the entire supply of lunchboxes at La Sirena to turn into first-aid kits, and it was probably quite a sight to see Jon, Dana, Angi, her friend Kristin, and me walking down the highway carrying sixteen brightly colored lunchboxes on our arms.

With their new knowledge, support, and resources, the cooperadores will be responsible for following up with patients, including those being treated for chronic illnesses like hypertension.  They will design and present health education workshops three times per year, as well as hold weekly “office hours” for people in their communities to come talk or consult their course materials, which cover topics like first-aid and emergencies, community education and public health, preventing and treating chronic and infectious disease, and caring for vulnerable populations.

The cooperadores from communities where we hold medical service trips will also play a crucial role in ensuring our clinics provide the best quality care possible.  As the program gets going, they will be able to identify community health problems, design interventions, and implement solutions with HHI’s support – creating lasting change in the health of underserved communities.

As we wrapped up, our cooperadora from Severet, Dorka, asked if she could say a few words.  It’s always an experience to hear Dorka speak – as a pastor, her passionate eloquence and ability to deliver a message is rivaled by few.  Her words, full of appreciation and hope, inspired her fellow cooperadores to take what they have learned and put it into practice.  She also generously offered a beautiful prayer for HHI and the people who work to fulfill its vision.

After that, photo-ops!

Now the work of management, evaluation, adaptation, and growth begins in full force.  The new IPDs (stay tuned for an introduction!) will be spearheading these efforts over the course of the next year.  We have such an opportunity to create change in the way health is understood, promoted, valued, and defended.  I know it will continue to be a long and challenging road, but at the end of it, I cannot be anything but optimistic.

With a sigh of relief at the amazing fact that an event in the DR went off without a hitch, and a high-five for all the day represented, we set off back down the highway.  Saturday afternoon was spent at the beach, for sure.

Always,

Laura

PS: Thank you Kristin for all her beautiful photography during the celebration!

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