Reflections on a Year of Stomp in Rwanda
By Arielle Mancuso
Stomping Out Malaria in Africa has made great progress during the past year to fight malaria in Peace Corps Volunteer’s communities, but the achievement in Rwanda is exceptional. Last year, only three Peace Corps Volunteers completed two projects affecting 90 people in 21 communities. So far this year, 13 volunteers have completed 14 projects affecting 10,804 people in 44 communities- and the year is not even close to the end! That is a growth rate of 433% in participating volunteers; 700% in projects; 12,000% in people reached and 210% in communities affected. Overall, I think that we can accurately say that the malaria program in Peace Corps Rwanda is growing.
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The program is also becoming more robust. The diversity of activities that PeaceCorps Volunteers are involved in is expanding. Last year, the portfolio of malaria activities at Peace Corps Rwanda included trainings only. Although trainings are an efficient way to deliver messages that promote preventive measures and appropriate treatment for malaria, there are many other important activities that volunteers can become involved in. In January 2013, the Ministry of Health and its partners carried out a national net distribution to achieve universal coverage of long-lasting insecticide treated nets in Rwanda. Eight Peace Corps Volunteers participated in the national net distribution in their communities and directly distributed 3,800 nets. In addition, volunteers supported the distribution in a variety of ways, from improving planning and logistics, to conducting innovative behavior change communication and following up with the development of community-level initiatives to foster a culture of malaria prevention. The stories of five volunteers were featured on the Stomping Out Malaria in Africa’s website as their “Weekly Awesome”, putting Rwanda on the Stomp Out Malaria in Africa map, and many more activities are planned for the future.
I had the opportunity to see most of you at the Regional Meetings in February. I spoke about practical ways volunteers can become involved in malaria activities, including serving as Regional Malaria Volunteers and participating in the surveillance of long-lasting insecticide treated nets in Rwandan communities. We have announced the results of the election and your new Regional Malaria Volunteers should bereaching out to you soon. This network of Regional Malaria Volunteers is an efficient method for us to provide you with local technical support as you implement community-level malaria projects at your site. Equipped with technical knowledge and resources, they will serve as liaisons between centrally-located Malaria Volunteers and volunteers in the field in order to increase access to the support you need to design and carry out malaria projects that produce a meaningful impact in your communities.
I had the opportunity to see most of you at the Regional Meetings in February. I spoke about practical ways volunteers can become involved in malaria activities, including serving as Regional Malaria Volunteers and participating in the surveillance of long-lasting insecticide treated nets in Rwandan communities. We have announced the results of the election and your new Regional Malaria Volunteers should bereaching out to you soon. This network of Regional Malaria Volunteers is an efficient method for us to provide you with local technical support as you implement community-level malaria projects at your site. Equipped with technical knowledge and resources, they will serve as liaisons between centrally-located Malaria Volunteers and volunteers in the field in order to increase access to the support you need to design and carry out malaria projects that produce a meaningful impact in your communities.
We still have more work to do. During the Regional Meetings, 31 volunteers signed up to participate in the Net Use and Maintenance Survey. This survey is an opportunity for Peace Corps and Stomp Rwanda to establish itself on the national radar. Our approach to development is unique and, as a result, often misunderstood by partners working centrally. We fill a niche that is different than “donor” or “technical advisor.” Rather, we are “community whisperers,” because we know what is going on in the community, what makes a community click, and most importantly, what doesn’t.
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Very few people at the central level share this perspective, and I can’t express how many times this knowledge has given me an advantage, despite my technical inaptitude in the face of global experts. Partners at the central level are also beginning to recognize the advantages of tapping into the wealth of community knowledge Peace Corps Volunteers possess. No other partner is better placed to provide this much needed information. The Net Use and Maintenance Survey is an opportunity to leverage our advantage and contribute in a significant way to national level processes. As soon as we receive our stamp of approval, we will be conducting the survey in 29 communities.
We have also provided technical support to enthusiastic volunteers who went above and beyond to plan their own malaria activities in their communities. Some volunteers are planning to do a series of workshops for Community Health Workers and Health Center staff on malaria prevention and community mobilization. Others are incorporating malaria into youth development camps and establishing malaria clubs at their schools. Others are designing community-level educational outreach activities. Still others are working to establish strategic partnerships to procure insecticide-treated nets to bring to their schools. Their work is admirable, as they are the trailblazers for malaria work in Rwanda. The first steps are always the most difficult, but also a learning experience for the program as we strive for continuous improvement of malaria projects that are context appropriate and of high quality.
Our Program Director claims that Stomping Out Malaria in Rwanda is “the new Peace Corps.” For many reasons, I agree. This is one of the few times that the work of Peace Corps Volunteers is being outwardly recognized as making a significant contribution to a global priority issue. Since 1997, the elimination of malaria from endemic countries around the world and eventual global eradication has been on the international agenda. Progress has been made, but achievements are fragile, requiring sustained commitment and interventions that offer more value for money. You may not be aware, but Peace Corps Volunteers played a significant role in the elimination of the guinea worm from many countries where volunteers serve, contributing to nearly successful global eradication (transmission occurred in only four countries in 2011, as opposed to 20 in 1990). We can do it again, but this time with a focus on malaria.
Peace Corps is responding to a changing environment in the context of the global financial crisis. On some level, you’ve all experienced this with the introduction of new project frameworks, the Volunteer Reporting Tool, and Focus In/Train Up training packages. As Congress moves in a direction of demanding performance for funding, Peace Corps must work to improve the quality of its training and reporting. Now, Peace Corps Volunteers must have the technical capacity to carry out their work and report on the impact that their projects have had. Although any period of transition can be frustrating, we are benefiting from the opportunity for more and better professional development.
We have also provided technical support to enthusiastic volunteers who went above and beyond to plan their own malaria activities in their communities. Some volunteers are planning to do a series of workshops for Community Health Workers and Health Center staff on malaria prevention and community mobilization. Others are incorporating malaria into youth development camps and establishing malaria clubs at their schools. Others are designing community-level educational outreach activities. Still others are working to establish strategic partnerships to procure insecticide-treated nets to bring to their schools. Their work is admirable, as they are the trailblazers for malaria work in Rwanda. The first steps are always the most difficult, but also a learning experience for the program as we strive for continuous improvement of malaria projects that are context appropriate and of high quality.
Our Program Director claims that Stomping Out Malaria in Rwanda is “the new Peace Corps.” For many reasons, I agree. This is one of the few times that the work of Peace Corps Volunteers is being outwardly recognized as making a significant contribution to a global priority issue. Since 1997, the elimination of malaria from endemic countries around the world and eventual global eradication has been on the international agenda. Progress has been made, but achievements are fragile, requiring sustained commitment and interventions that offer more value for money. You may not be aware, but Peace Corps Volunteers played a significant role in the elimination of the guinea worm from many countries where volunteers serve, contributing to nearly successful global eradication (transmission occurred in only four countries in 2011, as opposed to 20 in 1990). We can do it again, but this time with a focus on malaria.
Peace Corps is responding to a changing environment in the context of the global financial crisis. On some level, you’ve all experienced this with the introduction of new project frameworks, the Volunteer Reporting Tool, and Focus In/Train Up training packages. As Congress moves in a direction of demanding performance for funding, Peace Corps must work to improve the quality of its training and reporting. Now, Peace Corps Volunteers must have the technical capacity to carry out their work and report on the impact that their projects have had. Although any period of transition can be frustrating, we are benefiting from the opportunity for more and better professional development.
Stomping Out Malaria in Africa is one of few programs that invests in its volunteers and provides them with intense technical training. Before beginning our service as Rwanda’s Malaria Volunteers, Virginia and I attended a two-week “boot camp” training in Senegal. We gained a thorough knowledge of malaria, enabling us to perform the duties of our job. One of our tasks was to disseminate malaria information to volunteers serving in Rwanda. In order to accomplish this, we have provided all volunteers with a basic understanding of malaria at Peace Corps official trainings and will be conducting an intensive training for Regional Malaria Volunteers soon so they may provide continued learning to volunteers in the field. The Health Program Manager, Emmanuel Rugira, and Beth Braaksma, Health Group 4, recently returned from Boot Camp VI and we will be meeting with them to debrief on ways to improve and involve them in the program.
As we near the end of our service, we are preparing to pass the reins to a new Malaria Volunteer. As with many
of life’s changes, the feeling is bittersweet. I was told at the boot camp training in Senegal that I had a difficult task ahead of me getting the program in Rwanda off the ground. In order to be successful, I would have to “be malaria.” You have bore with me through the year as I’ve sent countless emails and presented, always on the same topic, at your trainings. We laughed when I dressed up as Arielle the Anopheles mosquito for Halloween. Together, we’ve built the foundation of a malaria program in Rwanda; a program that I hope continues to grow in my absence. That depends on you. In addition to the volunteer who steps up as Rwanda’s new Malaria Volunteer, you each have a role to play in the continued effort and future of the program. |