Public health initiatives in Peru: Creating a Community of Household Health Advocates
Why EcoSwell was a good match for me
I had the life-changing opportunity to join EcoSwell in Lobitos, Peru, as a Research intern for six months as a part of my university’s co-op program. I am in my third year at Northeastern University, where I study International Affairs, Global Health, and Spanish. A unique component of the Northeastern student experience is the experiential learning program, which allows students to undertake a six month internship in an interested career built into the academic timeline. As a part of this co-op program, I traveled to Lobitos, Peru to work with EcoSwell. I was initially drawn to EcoSwell because my personal values greatly align with EcoSwell’s mission of helping vulnerable communities develop in a sustainable way through a holistic, community driven manner.
“I was initially drawn to EcoSwell because my personal values greatly align with EcoSwell’s mission of helping vulnerable communities develop in a sustainable way through a holistic, community driven manner.”
My academic experience instilled in me the importance of interdisciplinary solutions to modern global health challenges, and EcoSwell’s model and work embodies just this. Prior to my arrival in Peru, I conducted research on the healthcare system of Peru for one of my global health courses, which gave me valuable insight into the institutional challenges the system faces. In reading another paper written by previous EcoSwell interns about the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 on the community and the Lobitos Medical Post, I was inspired to research the health-related challenges from a preventative health perspective.
Empowering the community to be agents of change
My ambition to learn about the community health challenges and develop a project to address them was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and support from my supervisor, Alejandro Pizarro- one of the directors and co-founders. I had the opportunity to interview a few local people to gain insight on the health challenges of the community to inform the design, topics, and implementation of the project. After doing extensive research, we came up with a design for a Community Health Worker program that focuses on health education. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are “community-based workers who help individuals and groups in their own communities to access health and social services, and who educate community members about various health issues” (WHO). EcoSwell’s Community Health Worker project aims to bridge the gap between the healthcare system and the locals of Lobitos by creating employment opportunities as health educators and promoters for locals, helping community members achieve better health outcomes, and alleviating stress on the under-equipped healthcare system.
“In our efforts, we want to empower local people to become health advocates and agents of change in the community.”
This 18 month pilot project would consist of a training period for CHWs, a disease monitoring plan, and educational workshops with community members. The project focuses on education and monitoring some of the most prevalent diseases in Lobitos- hypertension, hypoglycemia, and anemia- which can largely be mitigated by addressing the topic of nutrition. Through knowledge of how behavior changes involving nutrition can impact their health, locals can regain agency over their own health and prevent disease, leading to a higher quality life. We are currently applying for funding to support this project.
Reflecting on my experience with EcoSwell
Developing this project with EcoSwell has been an incredibly eye-opening experience. I learned first-hand the value of cultural and resource consideration, sustainability, and community-focused design in creating a project to have the highest impact of change. In a conversation with a past medical intern, they also expressed that EcoSwell fueled their motivation to seek out a professional career with a purpose. Working as an assistant at the medical post radically changed their viewpoint of global healthcare, prompting them to develop a more empathetic perspective as a healthcare professional. EcoSwell, from both a personal and professional perspective, operates to instill interns with a new awareness and consciousness of conditions around the world through the experience of working and living in Lobitos.
I have learned so much from my experience at EcoSwell; it has challenged me beyond my expectations, and widened my perspective to the importance of sustainable practices in all aspects of life. Before coming to EcoSwell, I was unsure about how my passions could transform into a career, but this experience has shown me all the opportunities available to me to make a difference doing what I love. I hope to facilitate as much meaningful change as this wonderful team and community has done for me.