Nourish and the Health and Sanitation Campaign

The disturbing sight of two dogs viciously biting, snarling, and clawing at each other was not part of the plan.

Before setting foot in Peru we had multiple pre-departure meetings to solidify the project’s main objectives. While discussing the prospect of health assessments and sustainable latrines for the villages of the Moche valley, a secondary goal emerged: to provide a health fair with basic education to the community members with whom we would be working.

Last week was exhausting. While digging holes in hard clay during the day, we also made posters, pamphlets, and curricula. We learned how to take blood pressure and blood sugar during our downtime. Although many community members had heard about the fair by word-of-mouth (which travels fast here), last Friday, the day before the fair, we placed flyers all around Ciudad de Dios:

Even though we were all exhausted that night, every person in the group actively worked to help finish the last tasks to make the health fair a success. We hustled to finish the posters, rushing to internet cafes and copy shops before they closed for the night.

Robby and Abe taught kids how to clean their teeth the fun way.

The next morning, 5:45 a.m. felt earlier than usual, but I was still excited. I added extra coffee concentrate to my cup and extra jam to my rolls.

Once in Ciudad de Dios, we started to set up our stations in two dusty rooms of the four-room schoolhouse. When we met the first family from a nearby village making their way up stone steps, they smiled and asked us quietly if this was the health fair.
Thus, our stations began rolling and people started arriving in droves.

This was one of the kids games that taught them nutritious eating skills, behind which is line for the doctor's free consultation.

When a Peruvian doctor and a visiting American nurse practitioner arrived mid-morning, a line was formed out the door for free health consultations. After making their rounds through the health stations and receiving a consult, each visitor got a bag of lentil beans and a hot chicken empanada.

The children were a handful, but luckily there were many of us to deal with them.

This was a puppet show scripted by Melissa and Britney that was put on as part of the children's games.

While from a far the fair looked like clockwork, every one of us worked hard and dealt with multiple small problems throughout the day. At one critical moment during the fair, two dogs tore at each other ferociously. The people turned silent and everyone exchanged nervous glances. Luckily, Katherine Burns, or la jefa (the chief), arrived a minute later to save the day.  Like a pro, she grabbed one of the growling mutts by the back of its neck and yanked it off of the other. It was no surprise to find that along with being Director of Public Health programs for MOCHE Inc., Kat is also a dog whisperer.

Despite putting out small fires throughout the day, we put on a rowdy and fun family event and provided health advice to over 100 Moche Valley residents.

The group after setting up the health fair. From top left: Michelle, Olivia, Melissa, Linda, Katie, Paula, Britney, Paul, Vera, Abe, Becky, Robby, Kevin