Family "Planning" Means Family "Caring"

​This thoughtful young woman, named Sita, lives alone with her husband and makes a living selling a snack called chatpate on the streets of Kathmandu. Pregnant for the first time, 18-year-old Sita is a participant in the ongoing women's group held by our volunteers. In this group, women learn valuable information about pregnancy, safe childbirth, nutrition, menstruation, and family planning. Equally valuable is the gentle openness of our volunteers, who create a safe atmosphere in which delicate questions and concerns can be raised by shy participants. Our Nepali Representative, Pinkey Malla, tells us, ""Women are happy from information about family planning...Many women hesitate to talk about that, but we create a friendly situation and many women sharing their experience, asking questions." 

"Family Planning" means making intentional, responsible choices about the size and spacing of children and protecting the health of the mother.  Training in family planning has made a radical difference in the fertility rates of Nepal, which have been gradually dropping in recent years.  According to the World Health Organization, the fertility rate in Nepal has dropped from  5.8 children per woman in the 1970s, to the current rate of 2.6 children per woman! As in every developing country, fertility rates are much higher for the lower economic classes, making women's groups like this one invaluable. Fewer children per family means improved health for women and greater ability for parents to feed, educate, and take CARE of each precious child. Family planning means family caring.

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A Step Toward Freedom!

​This adorable fabric might not look like a freedom-flag for women's empowerment, but it is! For women and girls in the slum areas of Kathmandu, Nepal who cannot afford American-style feminine products, this waterproof cloth can provide the freedom to attend school or work and to avoid isolation and missed opportunities for income and education. For the past several months, our colleagues in Nepal have been gathering a group of 38 village women together to teach a wide range of topics that affect women's health. Their most recent endeavor is to teach the group how to make homemade, reusable sanitary pads. They plan to expand the program to the remote Himalayan villages very soon! Our amazing volunteers are the true freedom-fighters for women!

  

Simple, reusable, discreet, and sanitary pads!

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Michelle Mahlik

BOD, HealthEd Connect

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How to Build a Latrine in 8 Not-so-simple Steps (in a remote Himalayan village):

Step 1: Survey 75 families to determine the need for latrines to improve health.

Step 2: Wallow in paperwork for a year in order to obtain government permission to build.

Step 3: Walk 6-8 hours from your mountain village to the nearest town to order materials and have them transported by pickup truck to your village.

Step 4: Educate your village on the need for sanitation and how to safely create and care for latrines.

Step 5: Dig a deep, deep hole. Avoid the monsoon season!

Step 6: Install simple but efficient pan and pipes to create a safe and functional system.

Step 7: Coordinate each family in supplying the products and labor to build their own unique structure out of stone, brick, or tin. 

Step 8: Celebrate the great teamwork of Ramprasad, Pinkey, Binod, Ram, the villagers, and our donors!

Latrines have been built and our pilot program is up and running in Nepal! The families in this remote Himalayan village were devastated by the 2015 earthquake. They are excitedly participating in the effort to improve village sanitation. Our Nepalese team will assess the function of the latrines for a few months before continuing to build more...stay tuned for further developments! This project will dramatically improve the health of the members of this community by preventing illness and the spread of disease. This has been a long journey, and we celebrate the efforts of our friends who have worked so hard to make this happen!

Ramprasad educates villagers on the need for sanitation.

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​Stones are readily available in this mountainous region.

​Each family provides building products as they are able, giving each latrine a unique appearance.

​Simple yet efficient! In the absence of running water, a pot of water is kept handy to keep things clean and sanitized!

Merger Phones

Jane inspecting merger phone

Remember the mega phones from your childhood?  They still serve an important function in rural areas of Africa.  Jane, our Kafwa health worker supervisor in Luapulua Zambia, says they're used to alert the villagers to gather for health programs and events..  They call them "merger" phones.  

Jane says the people find the health information sessions interesting and "all the people are very happy with our work... [and want us ] to countinue (sic) with this program."  

Under the Tree

Dr. Thomas administering an immunization

People in rural areas of Africa have limited health care options.  They are willing to walk long distances, however, to take advantage of immunizations and well-baby checkups for their children.  They may not have fancy health facilities but a sturdy tree is often a good substitute.  Weighing babies monthly is a significant tool to determine health status. The weight of a baby is tracked from birth and entered onto a growth chart that indicates the normal "Road to Health" for a baby of that age.  Babies who fall below the optimum weight level are closely tracked by the Kafwa to help the mother get the baby back on the road to health.

Mama Madam

Crowd gathered to hear Mama Madam book read

Jane recently reported she frequently reads Mama Madam to the children in her area.  This little book is about two Zambian orphans' journey through grief after their mother dies. In addition to pertinent content, a picture book is a huge and rare luxury in Zambia and always draws crowds of children. -- and adults!  The book has been translated into Chibemba making it easily understandable for those who do not speak English.  Mama Madam was written by Sherri Kirkpatrick, illustrated by Marla Blevins, and now enjoyed by hundreds of children!

Healed and Walking

Mr. Bwalya walking again

The Kafwa in Luapula, Zambia are busily bringing health and healing to numerous people in the community.  One of those singing their praises is Mr. John Bwalya from Mukomansala village.  Mr. Bwalya had a severe wound on his right leg and had been unable to stand or walk for quite some time.  After the Kafwa treated his leg with guava leaf antiseptic and a small amount of triple antibiotic for several weeks, the wound healed and Mr. Bwalya was again able to resume normal activities.   Jane, who sent the picture, said "he showed so much appreciation for our treatment."   Guava leaves are plentiful in Zambia, easy to harvest and prepare, and most importantly, effective in treating infections.  Mr. Bwalya is certainly a believer!