Health

Available for volunteers is the third in a series of health sensibilisation books by Sabrina Barker, RPCV, and Krystle Austin (with a special guest appearance for this book by Kerry Kelly). This book is about oral hygiene. It discusses baby teeth, cavities and the importance of oral hygiene and includes the recipe for Nime powder that can be used as an inexpensive toothpaste substitute. French and English translations available. Enjoy!

I am sure you all have noticed that football can pretty much grab any burkinabes attention. Well, now you can use that as a tool to teach people in your community about numerous health issues. The powerpoint attached offers a simple guide (using very little materials or expertise) on how soccer drills can reinforce your sensibilizations on malaria, family planning and HIV/AIDS. You can also find it in the CHAT section of the website. Enjoy!

Overview: This project involved providing 65 latrines to a community in need of them in just six weeks in order to provide proper sanitary systems, dignity, and proper health to over 600 of the poorest people in the community.

Statement of Problem: Despite the fact that the local community is highly developed, just off the main road the houses have no sewage system or running water, and most have no latrines. Thus, people urinate and defecate in the streets, resulting in a terrible hygiene problem and a major threat to public health.

Mechanism: While the actual construction was carried out by local masons, the PCV served as the administrator of the project.

See volunteers and counterparts in action at PC's Latrine and Hygiene Training in Baskouré from February 27 to March 2! This instructional video will teach you how to build two different types of latrines and a handwashing station and how to properly wash your hands. Find out what the "VIP" in VIP Latrine stands for! (Hint: it is not a "Very Important Person Latrine.) Watch this exciting new video and share it with your neighbors and counterparts to spread the important messages of hygiene and sanitation!

Videos and images courtesy of FAVL Burkina.

Overview: This project involved the restoration of basketball hoops in order to expand existing coaching programs and teach leadership, teamwork, and citizenship through basketball.

Statement of Problem: The community has athletic facilities available to the population, but many were rundown.  Young men and women were already organized in soccer leagues as well as handball and volleyball, but did not have a knowledge of basketball.  Restoration of the existing basketball hoops would allow the PCV to address leadership and active citizenship under the guise/medium of teaching basketball.

Overview: The project involves sensibilizing the general population of the community on HIV/AIDS using a mural and games to attract attention.

Statement of Problem: In this community there are multiple high risk populations that could benefit from learning about prevention, transmission and care for HIV/AIDS. The high risk populations are due to gold mining in proximity to the village.

Mechanism: This project demonstrates the steps involved in planning an HIV/AIDS sensibilization for a large group of at-risk people.

Overview: With the help of the faculty, PCV established school gardens. The faculty organized the school children into groups to collect fencing supplies, prepare the earth, and maintain the garden.

Statement of Problem: Both schools have a problem when it comes to parents paying school fees, as well as a problem supplying the school canteen.

Mechanism: The students are split It is truly a learning experience for the kids. The garden project helps to:

1. Teach children responsibility
2. Provide money for the school (a percentage of the vegetables are sold at the local market)
3. Provide supplements to the school canteen (the unsold percentage of goods is used in the school canteens to add extra vitamins to the children's diets.)

Overview: The project explores steps and recipes for hard soap with a shea butter base. In addition, the project explores packaging options for both local and foreign markets.

Statement of Problem: There are regularly tourists passing through the community wishing to purchase shea-based products. This project was started due to the interest of an association member who had training in soap making and wanted to begin developing shea based products. Since this particular association produces shea butter and there was easy access to the remaining necessary materials, it was a feasible project.

Mechanism: This project helps to set up an efficient means of producing natural and refined soaps that can be sold in foreign markets. It does this by creating new and attractive soap types, as well as creating Europe and United States acceptable packaging and labels.