Public Health Education Program

Originally created and directed by Will Perez, beginning in June of 2008, the public health education program began by teaching five bright and highly motivated boys, ages 16-20, who were residents of Castel Pierre, information about a variety of issues pertaining to public health including hygiene, sanitation, nutrition and water quality along with testing, treatment and prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of several diseases endemic to the area.

The purpose of the program is to spread as much knowledge relating to public health as possible, in hope that through education we can empower those most vulnerable in rural Haiti--the children. In order for this program to be a success it is crucial that the teaching is done through peer education, teaching Haitians to teach other Haitians. For this reason, I recommend finding a reliable and motivated student who can serve as your apprentice, who can then go on to teach a small group of interested “public health workers,” who will then go on to teach their peers in schools throughout nearby villages.

As public health students, they will help with teaching health education classes, mass treatment programs for scabies, ringworm and malaria, and daily surveys of the living quarters looking for health hazards, accompanying children who are sick to the clinic and making sure that the children on TB and Malaria meds are adhering to their regimens. Paul Farmer had it right when he said that the only way to make it sustainable was to teach Haitians to treat Haitians. It won't happen overnight. This is where your patience will be tested.

The program I have designed was made specifically according to the needs and interests of the residents at PwojeEspwa. The lesson plans are translated into both English and Creole. Accompanying each topic covered, is an oral/written exam and or an oral/written project assignment for the students to complete. These means of evaluation are in place to ensure that the public health students retain a firm grasp on the material so that they may teach their peers in both informal and formal settings. The program is designed to be completed in three months time, which includes a 2-week period of mock-teaching, where the public health students will take turns presenting all of the material we have covered over the span of the program.

The following is a list of the topics covered in order as to which they were originally taught:

  • Malaria—testing, treatment and prevention
  • Scabies—treatment and prevention
  • Prevention vs. Treatment
  • Home Remedies and Popular Beliefs
  • Witchcraft, Magic and the Evil Eye
  • Common Causes of Sicknesses
  • How to do a Physical Exam
  • How to Care for a Sick Person
  • Alternative Medicine
  • The Healing Powers of Water
  • The Use of Antibiotics
  • How to Give Medicine—Measuring Doses
  • First Aid
  • Nutrition
  • Prevention via Cleanliness
  • Prevention via Sanitation
  • Parasites—testing, treatment and prevention
  • Prevention via Vaccinations
  • Prevention via Other Habits and Behaviors
  • Dehydration, Diarrhea, Dysentery and Vomiting—treatment and prevention
  • Tetanus and Rabies—treatment and prevention
  • Ringworm
  • Teeth, Gums and Mouth Health
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases—testing, treatment and prevention
  • HIV/AIDS—testing, treatment and prevention
  • Children’s Health
  • How to Teach

The following is the original roster for public health program from September-November of 2008:

Director: Will Perez

Assistant Director: PhanorFritzner

Public Health Students (4): Felix Pierre Richard

AmbroiseMackenzy

Pierre Delince

GednaMarckenson

Director’s responsibilities: To research, design and update when necessary the lesson plans. To create methods of evaluating the students using tests, quizzes, projects etc. Recording grades in order to track the progress and competency of each student being trained. To develop a schedule, outlining the 3-month program. To ensure that all material being taught is translated in both English and Creole. A French translation should not take the place of a Creole translation. To teach one-on-one all of the public health material to the assistant director prior to the start of the program.To design/distribute a certificate of training and completion to the public health students.

Assistant Director’s responsibilities: To assist the director in all of his/her duties. To teach the lesson plans to the public health students. To assign homework/project assignments.To perform a written evaluation of each student on his/her progress in the program and competency in the material.

Public health student’s responsibilities: To attend every lesson on time and be well-prepared with a notebook, pen and any homework assignments that are due. To be active participants in the class and ask questions. To maintain a 75% or higher average on all tests/assignments.To be public health educators both inside and outside the classroom.To participate in public health interventions when necessary.