Proud of the Work I Do

Being a local health worker and serving my community has been so incredibly fulfilling. Between saving a woman from dying during child birth and helping the children of my village overcome their illnesses, my days are filled with moments that make me feel proud of the work that I do. Just recently I helped save a young boy who was displaying warning signs of severe pneumonia; without my help, his mother noted, he would have probably died in their home. I farm to support my family, but I serve as a health worker because of my interests in medicine and in promoting the health of the children in my community. From the training provided by Save the Children, I have learned how to identify and treat severe illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia – two of the most common killers of children under age 5. In my experience as a community health worker I’ve encountered a lot of obstacles. The first and most difficult is time: finding ways to visit with patients, collect thorough patient histories, diagnose illnesses, prescribe treatments, and perform follow-up visits – it all takes an extraordinary amount of time. But as a father with three children of my own, it is time that I consider to be not only necessary, but also vital towards keeping the children of my village safe and healthy. Gaining the trust of the parents in my community is the other major hurdle that I encounter. But with each sick child who recuperates as a result of my help, I am slowly becoming an accepted member of the community. A visit from the local health worker is fast becoming a normal part of life in Xachmochán and other neighboring villages.