Volunteers blog

SalusWorld Southeast Asia Initiative: HIV/AIDS Provider Basic Training Course
Monday, January 30, 2012

TOPIC: This course is an introduction to HIV/AIDS medicine for doctors and other health care workers involved in the care of people living with HIV/AIDS. This five-day course is offered to those who want to learn the basics of the medical care for patients with HIV and AIDS. There will be participatory learning, lectures and projects. Topics covered are described below, and are presented at the level for medical doctors. Successful completion of the course is a great foundation for working in this field and a prerequisite for the SalusWorld advanced HIV/AIDS course.
Trainer: Charles Steinberg M.D.

DESCRIPTION:
This week long training will focus on understanding the underlying medical science and practical applications of current approaches to treating and preventing HIV/AIDS.
Included in the training are the details of the HIV life cycle, how HIV is spread, what happens to the immune system in HIV infection, WHO Clinical staging, HIV testing and use of available lab tests, how anti-retrovirals (ARVs) work, their toxicity, following the patient to see if the ARVS are working, the diagnosis and treatment of common opportunistic infections and other HIV related complications, introduction to understanding drug/drug interactions, optimizing patients adherence to an ARV regimen, new approaches in HIV prevention of HIV spread and appropriate psychosocial approaches to People Living with HIV/AIDS. We will explore the best time and best way to initiate ARVS for this specific setting, and the appropriate follow up.
Much of the course will proceed with case presentations and then small group discussions and presentations of optimal approaches to that specific case. PowerPoint lectures and handouts will provide basic information, which will be augmented by the experiences of the participants and the trainer. The course requires understanding and speaking English.

Objectives: By the end of the week, participants will be able to
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic science underlying HIV infection and treatment.
2. Be able to discuss current treatments of HIV and opportunistic infections, their side effects and potential drug interactions.
3. Discuss factors of stigma, poverty and access to care that can be barriers to people living with HIV/AIDS to receiving appropriate medical care.
4. Display supportive and compassionate attitudes and approaches to providing care for people living with HIV/AIDS

TRAINER BIO:
Charles Steinberg M.D. is an AIDS treating physician from Boulder Colorado, USA. In 1985 he focused his practice on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and has been an AIDS specialist since. The American Academy of HIV Medicine certifies Dr. Charles as an HIV specialist (from it’s beginning in 2002 up to date through 2013).
Dr. Charles speaks internationally to physicians and people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) on how to live long and well with HIV. His lectures deal with the human issues and the medical aspects of HIV infection, touching the mind and the heart.
Dr. Charles trains nurses and doctors around the world, including Myanmar, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Nepal, Mexico, Peru, Honduras, Romania and The Ukraine. He has trained PLWHAs as facilitators for doctor/nurse education and as front line soldiers fighting for HIV prevention.

After 20 years of medical practice in the U.S, Dr. Charles served as senior trainer and consultant for the Infectious Diseases Institute in Kampala, Uganda from 2004-2011. He is an enthusiastic, sensitive trainer who always receives top evaluations from his trainees. He was in Myanmar last year and received excellent evaluations. He is also a professional photographer and uses his heartfelt images in his presentations.

Labels: ,

posted by gwen @ 11:19 AM   0 Comments


Consultant Pre-Departure Relfection by Eda Spielman
Monday, January 2, 2012

For many years, I have had the fantasy of spending some time in another part of the world. I have wanted not to simply travel but to have some reason to be there or connection with the local culture and people. Last spring I decided to create a mini-sabbatical for myself to see if I could make something like this happen. Thank goodness for the support of colleagues, family, and friends and for the internet for its wealth of resources. I followed many leads and dreamed many possible scenarios and found my way to Salus World, a small mental health NGO based in Denver. Their mission: “healing hidden wounds; promoting social justice; alleviating human suffering.” Just a modest goal…but certainly caught my eye. They send volunteer mental health consultants to train local providers in developing psycho-social understanding and skills. I was particularly drawn to their focus on sustainability in using consultants to build local capacity rather than provide direct service.

Fast forward six months and I am moving far out of my comfort zone and heading off for two months to work for SalusWorld (and travel) in Burma and northern Thailand. Salus has developed this Southeast Asia project for three years now but had not brought any expertise in early childhood mental health so were interested in what I had to offer from my years of working with new parents, young children, and families here at the JF&CS Center for Early Relationship Support. I will be working in Rangoon, Burma (or Yangon, Myanmar as it is known there) for three weeks, and then later for a week in a refugee village in Thailand, providing training and fostering dialogue with health, education, and community providers. It’s been a terrific opportunity for me to think about what ideas and concepts are central to the work we do. I’ve developed some frameworks for presenting material on early relational development, attachment, and trauma but I think the core of the experience will be in building relationships with the participants and sharing ideas across cultures. I’m excited and daunted by the opportunity and look forward to all the new experiences of learning and teaching and finding bridges of shared understanding.


Eda Spielman, PsyD is the clinical director of the JF&CS Center for Early Relationship Support. She holds a certificate in Infant Mental Health and came to JF&CS to develop Early Connections, a program of home-based mother-baby psychotherapy for dyads facing early relationship challenges.
posted by gwen @ 1:49 PM   1 Comments


New SalusWorld Training Module: Creating Home and Child Care Environments Where Children Can Thrive
Sunday, November 13, 2011

TOPIC: Building healthy social-emotional development for infants and young children through supporting their relationships with parents and caregivers; creating home and child care environments where children can thrive; understanding the key foundations of early development from birth to five and the impact of stress and trauma.


DESCRIPTION:
This week long training will focus on understanding the social and emotional development of infants and young children and the environments that support their well-being. Children grow within the context of their relationships with parents and other caregivers, including relatives, child care providers and community members. The early years of life form the foundation for a child’s capacity to learn, to form close relationships and to manage feelings. Supporting young children, parents and caregivers in their primary relationships with each other is the best way to ensure healthy families and communities.

Risk factors, such as parental depression, family conflict/divorce or community violence, can pose significant challenges to healthy early development. Providers who work with parents, families and young children can be critical sources of support in combating the impact of traumatic experiences. The training will include material on the ways providers can facilitate resilience in the early years and address the issues of stress and trauma.

The training will draw on research and literature from the fields of developmental psychology, early childhood education and neuroscience. Methods will include case studies, video observation, small group discussion and reflective supervision. Participants will be introduced to theoretical concepts and have multiple opportunities to consider ways these ideas can be useful to their work. Dialogue around issues of the cultural context of parenting and child development will be central to all aspects of the training.

Childhood can be a wonderful time of learning, exploration, and self-discovery and not just a race to university matriculation. This program, created by SalusWorld, is an opportunity for participants to develop understanding and skills in this critical area of early childhood mental health and well-being.

Objectives:
1. Gain an understanding of the foundations for secure, stable relationships for young children and their parents and caregivers.
2. Examine the challenges to early development, including parental depression and trauma.
3. Build capacities and skills for supporting early development.

Labels: ,

posted by gwen @ 7:16 AM   0 Comments


Update from our +Postive Living Project in SEA
Wednesday, August 17, 2011

July Activities:

At 30th July 1011, we had our final session of sharing circle program for PLWHA women. On that day, first we first checked how they feel then in a large group and facilitators also told their feeling focusing on the reward of completing a fabulous program. And then my co-facilitator and I separately met one woman at a time listening to their last month homework of exploring personal strength. I met five women and then I felt very proud of myself and it’s really a great moment in my life hearing very successful stories of them in their life, in their family and in their community. For an instance, one woman said she had been really empowered from our program. She is a disable and before she joined with us, she always felt she is poor, discriminated and week in her family. During these seven months, her confidence on her ability hugely develop and now she became very positive thinker, knowledge sharer in family and even helping her family’s business with her brother. And then we shared in large group focusing on in five years time, how we want to see ourselves and 2 wishes for the future. Everyone amazingly participated and we had lunch. After the lunch, we wrapped up reflecting back both the whole program and the day. We got some questions and very positive feedback. And our certificate awarding ceremony was more than perfect as my teammate treated all of the participants very delicious cake for his recent birthday.

Labels: ,

posted by gwen @ 12:43 AM   0 Comments


News from former consultant - Andre Heuer
Monday, June 27, 2011

I thought I would share my experience of presenting this past weekend at the Genetic Alliance on storytelling. My initial response to the request to speak about story to an organization involved in genetic disease was panic. My interest in genetics and how to encourage gene expression to foster healing of mind, body and soul through story was (and is) an important part of my personal study but I never considered myself as having an expertise. As I met the other presenters I learned that the focus of their use of story was to inform, advocate and provide support for those facing the challenge of genetic disease. They were intrigued by my understanding of the genomics of storytelling and healing. The focus of my presentation was to suggest that an understanding and study of the processes of gene expression, the creation and telling of story, and the ultradian cycles of learning, creativity, and activity/rest could suggest more effective approaches to foster healing of mind, body and soul.

I shared my own experiences with individuals facing the challenges of chronic and cute illness and with training counselors dealing with war and torture trauma in Liberia and Thailand. I also cited research on psycho/social genomics and the role of the arts. Finally, I presented the positive results of a study on Narrative Exposure Therapy that uses a storytelling process. In the NET study brain scans showed that the hippocampus of those who were suffering PTSD increased in activity and size after participating in four to eight sessions. (PSTD suffers' hippocampus are usually smaller than control groups.) This would indicate that NET story approach actually fostered neurogenesis on the molecular level.

Finally, throughout the session I shared stories but the one with the greatest response was the story of my experience with a tribal doctor in the Alaska. When asked if she still had visions, dreams and stories. She said "No." When asked "Is it because you living your vision, dreams and story?" She said, "No" again. After a pause she leaned forward and said, "I am my vision, I am my dream and I am my story." I also mentioned my experience in Liberia in which they added "We are our family story, we are communities story, and we are our clans story." I shared how stories are not products outside of ourselves but are actually who we are. This is a concept that from a genetic and epigenetic perspective is understood and affirmed in discussions by advocates to scientist. By the end of the conference I felt more confident and affirmed in my understanding and knowledge of the role of genomics in fostering healing. A humbling experience to say the least. I learned so much from so many good people.

After the session a teenager came up to me and asked if I would help her tell her story. I said, "Yes." I found that she had a metabolic genetic disease from birth that usually leads to death within a few days of birth. She spoke of what it is like knowing that she could die at any moment and actually has been in danger so many times that she could not count. As I helped her with her story I was touched and more than a few times brought to tears. In fact several times during the conference I was brought to tears. Not, much more to say about this but we will continue to work together on her story.

As usual talk of collaborations took place and two possibilities are all ready in the works. I know that the staff spoke of adding a greater focus on healing using the arts and storytelling. We will see what is next.

Below is the mission statement of the Genetics Alliance and a website http://www.geneticalliance.org

Thanks
andre

Labels: ,

posted by gwen @ 10:27 AM   0 Comments


SHE Also Wants and Deserves Decent Work
Thursday, May 5, 2011

submitted by Burmaby Insha Allah - SalusWorld Myanmar, Psychosocial Counselor


“He’s a guy with decent job.” “He has the perfect credentials for the job.” “Professionalism” and “Decent Work” are some of the greatest attributes a man can have. Both men and women in my country, and in many other places in the world, have come to accept that, when it comes to having a rewarding career, the quality of masculinity is all-important. But are men the only creatures who are competent? What about their counterpart, WOMEN?

Why are we affected by gender from the moment we are born? Both women and men across the globe work very hard. Women hold up half the sky. Men’s work, however, is always perceived as more notable than women’s work. Throughout history, the work that women do has often not even been seen as “work.” In fact, the role of women in all aspects of society remains unappreciated. Even in this 21st century, in some conservative societies, “women with decent work” is uncommon notion. We are half the world’s population, yet we do two-thirds of the world’s work – thus you can’t say that SHE doesn’t work hard. Yet women earn one-tenth of the world’s wages, and own less than one per cent of the world’s wealth. We, women, are among the poorest of the poor.

If women work so hard, why do they get very little income? Obviously, much of women’s work like family and community work is unpaid. Yet even when women hold paying jobs, their salaries are often lower than men’s. This happens in developed, industrialized countries, too. What are the reasons behind this injustice?

In Burma where I was born and have grown up, traditional culture supports gender stereotypes and a belief that education is less crucial for girls than for boys, especially in times of hardship. Subsequently, women often get less education than men, resulting in a lack of opportunity for gaining well-paid jobs. Even when we have the same education and competencies as our male rivals, women are still paid less because men are regarded as the breadwinners. Additionally, as a result of having unequal opportunity, fewer women participate in workers unions or other associations that promote worker rights. As long as we can’t acquire equal access to education, REAL change will elude us.

Another reason why women are left far behind men is because tasks that girls are traditionally taught, such as cooking and sewing, are rewarded less than the type of work that boys are trained to do, like building and working with machines. Also, despite the fact that women are able to perform jobs that were traditionally dominated by men, women are still viewed as weaker. The fact is, some women are physically stronger than some men, and some males are more caring than their feminine counterparts. It’s clear that differences in capabilities are more likely due to a person’s individual qualities rather than their sex. Thus, despite traditional views, men and women can clearly do similar work and should be provided an equal access to training.

Some women have broken through these barriers and made great progress, becoming scientists and space pioneers. Even so, the attention paid to women in science and the world of technology is often dimmer than the coverage of men’s contributions. I have personally felt this bias when, after spending five years in the university specializing in IT, the alumni still considers technology professions to be reserved for men.

2011 is the time for a wake-up call. March 8th is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It’s time to reflect on the historic struggles and achievements of women. The future of our women and girls requires us to listen to their previously unheard voices and to help them tap into sources of wealth, such as education, training and equal access to jobs that pay well.

This year the UN’s IWD theme is “Equal access to education, training, science and technology: Pathway to decent work” This affirms the importance of the idea that “HE is not the only one who wants and deserves a decent work.” We must use this opportunity to promote the notion that both sexes can walk together on the same pathway to a better quality of life.

This article is part of a writing assignment for Voices of Our Future, which is providing rigorous web 2.0 and new media training for 30 emerging women leaders. We are speaking out for social change from some of the most unheard regions of the world.

Labels: , ,

posted by gwen @ 2:06 PM   0 Comments


Testimonials from beneficiaries: Trauma Groups, Drama Presentations & School program


“This group has been so important for me. I find it’s a place I can go to cry and talk about things nobody else in my life wants to hear. I also discovered that many other women are suffering from the same things as me. Now I don’t feel so alone and I find myself looking forward to Tuesdays.” ~group member


“It’s like magic. Somehow this group allowed me to find hope again and I learned to take care of myself. I had no idea how bad I was until I compare myself to how I was doing before and I know now that I didn’t need a pill for what was troubling me.”
~Group member

“Even though I just discovered my husband, who has been missing for three years, is alive and well in the village, I know I am going to be OK. With the help of this group I realized I can now do a lot of things to help myself and even though it hurts to think he abandoned me I know it’s his problem, not mine. What I discovered with this group is that all I need to survive is already in me and I don’t need him here to meet my needs. I’d like to be able to tell him one thing: I’m not scared anymore.” ~Group member

“It’s hard to put into words how this group as helped me but this room feels like one of the safest places in the village. Sometimes on the weekends if I am feelings upset or have those thoughts about dying I just walk to this clinic and sit under that Mango tree and look into this room. After that, I always feel better and my children and friends have noticed it relaxes me. I have also started to take better care of my children and myself and have learned how to control my emotions. Some of this is the little things like bathing and feeding myself and some of this feels much bigger - I get less angry, I don’t yell and scream for no reason, and my memories of the crisis don’t scare me as much as they used to.”
~Group member


“I have to admit I was a little disappointed after the first week when I found out you wouldn’t be giving us any food or money. I thought my problems were all about the things that I lost or that were destroyed during the attack. Later I found the pressure from other people in the community to be very stressful. Every week they would tell me I was wasting my time coming here because all we were doing was talking. To tell you the truth, they still tease me and try to talk me out of coming when I walk up that very road; but, I know that I feel better after I come here. It’s a place where I can talk about my problems and worries and I don’t care what they say anymore. You let me cry if I need to and nobody tells me to stop crying or to be strong.”
~Group member


“I don’t know how it works, but I like it here and I like to see my fellow group members around town. We never talk about what we talk about in here because we know how important the privacy rule is, but we just look at each other and we know.”
~Group member

“At first I didn’t understand what this group was all about. All I knew was that I was having difficulty dealing with the loss of my wife and children and I had been told that others had been helped by these groups. So I came and sat quietly and thought I wasn’t going to say a word, but once I heard the Bill Of Rights and the Ground Rules I understood how we would be able to talk about all this stuff and gradually I was even able to ask questions of people I had been nervous to talk to up till now. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for listening to us, and thank you for allowing us to speak freely.”
~Group member

“I have to admit I used to be frustrated that you would never answer any of my questions directly. I used to leave and wonder what you would do in my shoes and if you would feel as angry as I felt. Eventually, I realized you weren’t here to judge me or to fix me but rather to listen and help me solve the problems - like you always say as “an extra brain.” Now I know I can do whatever I put my mind and my heart to and I am thankful.”
~Group member

“To have you all in our midst was a strange thing indeed. Sometimes when somebody was telling their story I would look over and watch you and realize you were all truly feeling the sadness in the room and all I could think about was that you didn’t have to be doing this and yet you were here every week. Once we felt important and cared about things changed - We started going to the markets and taking care of ourselves and we don’t care anymore about the people around us who say mean things or don’t understand why we come here because you all care and now we care about each other and ourselves.” ~Group member

“We have been meeting together as widows since the crisis occurred last February. Just meeting together and praying has been very helpful and we all came to realize we weren’t alone. But, I have to tell you, that first day that young man came and sat in our midst and listened and cried with us was a day I will never forget. We don’t have many men caring or even looking at us anymore and when I saw the tears in his eyes I thought we had our own little private Jesus right here with us and if he could feel these things with us than other men in our families could learn too and then there was hope.”
~Group member

“It was so strange to watch that drama because a lot of what was performed is going on for me – what I mean is that I’m feeling so much stress and dreaming about the militia. My wife actually tells me that sometimes she wakes up and sees me crying in my sleep. I don’t know how you knew but it’s nice to know I’m not completely crazy. The counselor I meet let me talk about these memories freely, never judged me, and helped me find ways to solve my problems.”
~community member

“I really liked that part about the pain of missing a loved one. I feel that so strongly that sometimes I think I could die from the pain. My heart beats so hard it controls me and I waste all my energy trying to control it.”
~community member, response to a drama presentation about community mental health issues

“I have to tell you I really appreciated that drama. It made a huge impact on my mind and what I once thought was a curse I now realize is common. Now I know many of my friends and neighbors are struggling with the same thoughts and feelings and we have a place to go to get support.”
~community member

“Can I just tell you that it’s almost as if you came to my house and peaked in my windows and discovered exactly what was bothering me and my family. Before I saw the play I didn’t exactly understand what your program was all about but now I know and I keep sending people to the clinic to speak with a counselor and they appreciate the privacy of it all and seem to be helped as well.” ~community member

“Thank you for coming to our schools and asking these questions. Up until now it has been as if none of the grown ups have realized we were here too during the crisis and we have been affected. I saw many scarry things and sometimes I can’t sleep at night because I am afriad of my dreams. Since you have been coming it feels like a release and it’s nice to know we have been remembered.”
~student


“Prior to doing these activities I was having a difficult time accepting my brother was gone. Nobody ever saw his body and yet everybody keeps telling me he was dead. It’s still hard to fully accept, but since we have been doing these art activities I have found a way to let go while remembering the good things.”
~student

Labels: , , ,

posted by gwen @ 10:04 AM   0 Comments


 
Previous Posts Archives

Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]