A Letter From the Trenches – An Intern Fights COVID-19 in South Africa

Dr. Kerry Kalweit, a 2016 MMEG grantee, gives us a hands-on view of what it has been like to mount, run, and revise a program to combat COVID-19 in East London, South Africa.  “This year is quickly morphing into a monster,” she says.  “My country was already facing a quadruple burden of disease—namely, noncommunicable diseases (like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer), trauma and accidents (including gender-based violence), infectious diseases (like HIV and TB) and maternal and child mortality. Now with COVID-19, our healthcare system is not coping.”

In a timeline over the spring into the summer,  she lays out very clearly how public health efforts tie directly to governmental pandemic policy as well as the toll working on the front lines takes on medical staff such as herself.  Dr. Kalweit has made an effort to care for herself by getting regular exercise – whether that means running laps around the hospital or taking online and video exercise classes – noting that “the endorphins also helped calm my anxiety from the daily changes in protocols and guidelines at work.”

She stresses the importance of rapid and local testing for COVID-19 in providing for timely and effective treatment as well as the care that needs to be taken by governments in reopening their economies, especially their liquor stores. Read her fascinating account here.  

Thank you for your good work Dr. Kalweit; keep us posted on your efforts!

"South Africans aren’t wearing masks or keeping their distance. This needs to change."

Laura Rossouw – PhD, Economics – South Africa Program Grantee 2016

Laura Rossouw is currently a Senior Lecturer and Health Economist at the School of Economics and Finances, Wits University, University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.  She has written an article for “The Conversation,” along with Carmen S. Christian (PhD), a fellow lecturer and researcher, at the Department of Economics, University of Western Cape.  “The Conversation” is a network of not-for-profit media outlets that publish news stories written by academics and researchers.

Their article describes how the lack of credible information and of an understanding of the seriousness of COVID-19 in South Africa has resulted in a slow behavior change.  It seems that where people get their information, government sites or media sites, plays into how they approach this pandemic and the gravity they give it. 

Some excerpts from the article:

“In countries like South Africa that face severe resource shortages, the burden of fighting COVID-19 falls heavily on citizens to change their behaviour and follow preventative measures. These include avoiding mass gatherings, physical distancing and wearing masks.”

“Inadequate sources of information carry a number of risks. One of the biggest is that people who don’t have credible information will be more exposed to the virus because they are less likely to abide by these behaviour changes. The second risk is that people don’t fully perceive the danger of COVID-19 or its negative outcomes.”

“… And high-impact preventative measures such as mask wearing and physical distancing should be prioritised relative to lower-impact interventions (like surface cleaning and hand washing) when communicating about preventative measures.”

“Changing social norms in a short amount of time is difficult, and a one-size fits all policy is unlikely to have the desired effect.  These changes require messaging that is context specific and which resonates strongly with its targeted audience.”

Please click here for the full article.

Increased violence during pandemic confinement in Mexico / Aumento de la violencia durante el encierro de la pandemia en México

María de Lourdes Velasco Domínguez – Doctorado, Ciencias Políticas con especialización en Justicia Penal y Derechos Humanos.

María de Lourdes Velasco Domínguez se considera una académica feminista.

Desde su licenciatura en Sociología, María de Lourdes ha centrado su trabajo en las desigualdades de género, especialmente con respecto a las mujeres indígenas. Como parte de este enfoque, es autora de trabajos académicos, ha dado conferencias sobre violencia feminicida y ha sido invitada a actuar como investigadora del gobierno en este asunto.

María de Lourdes se dedica a la investigación y prevención de la violencia feminicida en México, y al desarrollo y avance de herramientas o políticas dentro de la oficina del Fiscal General (OFG) de México.

María de Lourdes escribió un comentario sobre el aumento de la violencia doméstica durante la pandemia y un llamado a una "garantía ... de justicia y una vida digna libre de violencia":

Como académica feminista mexicana, me dedico a documentar y analizar, tanto las situaciones de violencia contra mujeres y niñas, como las políticas estatales y de la sociedad civil para combatir esta violencia. En el contexto actual, la pandemia de COVID-19, está agudizando el sufrimiento en el mundo, especialmente en los hogares más vulnerabilizados. En México, el hacinamiento en las viviendas, la falta de agua potable y los escasos ingresos que ya afectaban a millones de hogares, ahora están incrementando el riesgo de contagio y de muerte entre las personas más empobrecidas. Además, se ha observado que, pese a la emergencia sanitaria, la violencia en espacios públicos y privados no ha disminuido. El encierro ha ocasionado que aumente el trabajo de cuidados que se asigna inequitativamente a mujeres y niñas; además de que un mayor número de ellas se ha visto expuesta a tratos violentos de parte de su pareja íntima o de algún otro familiar. En medio de esta crisis es fundamental colectivizar el trabajo doméstico y de cuidados, promover la solidaridad económica en la sociedad y comprometernos con la igualdad en cada una de nuestras acciones y políticas a fin de poder garantizar, de manera igualitaria a cada ser humano, el derecho a los cuidados, a la justicia y a una vida digna libre de violencia.

María de Lourdes Velasco Domínguez, Doctorate in Political Science, focused on Criminal Justice and Human Rights. Latin America and Caribbean Program grantee,, 2020.

Maria de Lourdes Velasco Dominguez considers herself a feminist academic.

Since completing her undergraduate degree in sociology, Maria de Lourdes has worked on gender inequality, especially with respect to indigenous women. As part of this focus, she has authored work and lectured on femicide violence and has subsequently been invited to act as a government researcher on the issue.

Maria de Lourdes is dedicated to the investigation and prevention of femicide violence in Mexico and the development and advancement of tools or policies within the office of the Attorney General of Mexico.

Maria authored a commentary on increased domestic violence during the pandemic and a call for a “guarantee… for justice and a dignified life free of violence.”

As a Mexican feminist academic, I dedicate myself to documenting and analyzing both situations of violence against women and girls, as well as state and civil society policies to combat this violence. In the current context, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating suffering in the world, especially in the most vulnerable homes. In Mexico, overcrowding in homes, the lack of clean water and the low incomes that already affected millions of people are now increasing the risk of contagion and death among the poorest people. Furthermore, it has been observed that, despite the health emergency, violence in public and private spaces has not decreased. Confinement has caused an increase in the family care work that is unequally assigned to women and girls, in addition, a greater number of them have been exposed to violent treatment by their intimate partner or some other family member. In the midst of this crisis, it is essential to collectivize domestic and care work, promote economic solidarity in society and commit ourselves to equality in our actions and policies in order to guarantee, equally to each human being, the right to care, justice and a dignified life free of violence.

Providing Obstetric care during COVID-19 in vulnerable communities in Peru / Brindando atención obstétrica durante COVID-19 en comunidades vulnerables del Perú

Doris Milagros Inga Calampa - Maestría, Política Social; Obstetricia - Latin America Program, Peru, 2018.

Doris escribe a MMEG para agradecernos por ayudarla con sus estudios de maestría. Mientras completaba sus estudios de maestría, Doris también ha continuado con su trabajo como obstetra. Ella trabaja en un centro de maternidad que está abierto al público las 24 horas del día y sirve a una comunidad de personas en "situaciones económicas bastante precarias".

El centro en el que trabaja sirve a mujeres embarazadas en la comunidad, a pesar de la falta de equipos adecuados de protección personal y otros equipos que literalmente se están desmoronando. Sin embargo, Doris y sus colegas continúan ayudando a las mujeres que acuden al centro en sus horas de necesidad, ya sea antes, durante o después del parto.

Doris nos mandó un relato de sus actividades. Para leerlo pinche en este Enlace.

Doris Milagros Inga Calampa - Masters, Social Policy; Obstetrician – Latin America Program, Perú, 2018

Doris wrote to MMEG to thank us for helping her in her Masters.  While completing these studies, Doris has also continued her work as an Obstetrician.  She works in a maternity center that is open to the public 24 hours a day and serves a community of those in “quite precarious economic situations”.

The center where she works continues to serve pregnant women in the community, despite the lack of proper personal protection gear and equipment that is literally falling apart.  But Doris and her colleagues continue to help the women who come to the center in their hours of need, whether before, during or after labor.

Please read her own words, in this link (in Spanish).

Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar founding President of the Association of Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN) helped stranded Nepali students and families in New Jersey.

Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar – Social Entrepreneur and Award-Winning Scholar.

Honorary Doctor of Letters, (Pine Manor College, 2013); Masters, International Development; US/Canada Program, 2006.

Dr. Pariyar is the founding President of the Association of Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN); a prolific social entrepreneur, an award-winning scholar; and a well-known advocate for marginalized Nepali communities. Dr. Pariyar was born in a Dalit (Untouchable) family of ten children in a remote village in Nepal and has overcome tremendous obstacles of gender, caste discrimination, and poverty.

At age 20, Dr. Pariyar co-founded ADWAN with the exclusive objective of serving Dalit women and children of Nepal. ADWAN is a rights-based Nepali organization which, since 1998,  has supported more than 50,000 Dalit and marginalized women and their family members in Nepal. 

During the pandemic, ADWAN Nepal has been distributing food and essential goods to needy families in 3 districts of Nepal. (Go to: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/relief-fund-for-coronavirus-pandemic-victims if you would like to support this work). But, Dr. Pariyar now lives in New Jersey, where  she works as an anti-gender violence Program Coordinator at CarePoint Health System. When COVID19 hit the United States, Dr Pariyar not only continued her work at the hospital, but also became very aware of the difficult situation international students were going through.

Dr. Pariyar recounts what moved her to support about 200 international, mostly Nepali, students in New Jersey:

“For every student, graduation is a very special and important achievement after many years of hard work. Especially for international students who invite parents and loved ones to be with them to cheer up when they walk down on the convocation and expect gifts. Unfortunately, this year, because of the lock down, students didn’t get a chance to walk on convocation. As a former international student myself, I can feel their hope and agony of not having their loved ones when they graduate. Our team decided to provide a small gift package with essential health care items as a gift to our mostly Nepali international students. Yes, with the help of so many generous donors, we were able to handover gifts to 200 students. We got very touching notes from students after they received our gifts.”

Her social commitment did not stop there and thanks to the help of many donors, she was also able to distribute essential healthcare items and food for more than 121 families in New Jersey. Noting this community support, she says “I received support from everywhere.”

Delivering gifts to the Nepalese students.

Delivering gifts to the Nepalese students.

"In terms of domestic or sexual violence, the pandemic neither forgives or diminishes." / "En términos de violencia familiar y sexual, la pandemia ni perdona ni disminuye."

Ruth García  – MMEG Latin America Program,  2015. Perú. Máster en Estudios de Género.

Ruth trabaja como psicóloga en la Unidad Distrital de Asistencia y Protección a Víctimas y Testigos (UDAVIT) del Ministerio Público en la Provincia de Cañete, Lima (Perú), ofreciendo asesoría y brindando asistencia terapéutica de seguimiento, según sea necesario, a víctimas y testigos (mujeres, niños/as y adolescentes) de violencia doméstica y sexual. Su trabajo también incluye charlas y sesiones familiares. Recientemente realizó una charla por el “Fan Page” del Ministerio Público de Cañete, cuyo tema fue: Superando la tensión en casa: consigamos la armonía familiar en tiempos de cuarentena: https://www.facebook.com/ministeriopublicocanete/videos/2754160821354684

A su vez, Ruth trabaja con fiscales y otras instituciones del Estado en aras a una mejor prestación de servicios en estos tiempos de crisis.

Ruth ve su trabajo como un ejemplo de "herramienta de curación para ayudar a reparar lo que está dañado ...". Su trabajo incluye talleres, sesiones terapéuticas individuales o grupales y visitas domiciliarias. Ella sabe de primera mano que, a pesar de esta pandemia, la violencia doméstica continúa, con niños/as como espectadores; convirtiendo a estos niños/as en víctimas de este problema de salud pública.

Para leer el relato de Ruth: “Labor en pandemia y mucho más…” , sobre violencia de género en tiempos de pandemia. 

Ruth Garcia - MMEG Latin America Program, 2015, Master’s in Gender Studies, Peruvian.

Ruth works as a psychologist at the District Office for Assistance and Protection to Victims and Witnesses (UDAVIT) for the Public Ministry of  the province of Cañete in Lima, Peru.  She works with victims and witnesses – women, girls, boys and adolescents – of domestic and sexual violence.  She provides therapeutic assistance to these victims and witnesses; she counsels them and provides follow-up therapy as required. Her work also includes talks and family sessions. She recently gave a talk on the "Fan Page" of the Public Ministry of Cañete on “Overcoming tension at home: let's achieve family harmony in times of quarantine”: https://www.facebook.com/ministeriopublicocanete/videos/2754160821354684

Ruth also works with State prosecutors and other institutions to work toward providing better services in these times of crisis.

Ruth views her work as an example of using a “healing tool to help repair what is damaged…”  Her work involves giving workshops, providing individual or family group therapeutic sessions and making home visits.  She knows first-hand that despite this pandemic, domestic violence continues, with children as spectators; these children then become additional  victims of the public health problem.

You can read Ruth’s first-hand account: “Labor en pandemia y mucho más…” about working in a time of pandemic and about gender violence.

Supplies to vulnerable communities and protection of healthcare workers, as Africa battles COVID-19 - an article by Dr. Fatoumatta Darboe and S. Suliman.

Fatoumatta Darboe is a MMEG grantee from 2017. Mrs. Darboe has a Ph.D. in Clinical Sciences and Immunology from the University of Cape Town, in South Africa. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Medical Research Council at Gambia Unit at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

According to Dr. Darboe and co-author S. Suliman, COVID-19 can damage the healthcare system in the African continent, and thus the goal should be to stop the spread of the virus so it does not compromise the healthcare system infrastructure: “COVID-19 is bound to spread and cause irreversible damage to African nations and their healthcare systems. (..) the goal should be to limit the spread of the virus to prevent at once overwhelming an already devastated healthcare infrastructure and overstretched healthcare workforce in many African countries.”

They also mention that one of the priorities for governments in Africa during the pandemic should be to ensure the equitable distribution of supplies for vulnerable populations: “(..)ensuring equitable distribution of supplies, particularly to vulnerable communities should be a central priority in COVID-19-issued lockdowns.(..) The sustainability of the lockdown will rely on everyone having enough food and basic sanitary supplies, as well as medications for other medical conditions, which will not suddenly cease to exist during periods of COVID-19 management.”

The article also highlights the importance of manufactured materials to protect healthcare personnel and avoid further transmissions of COVID-19: “This necessitates that we create resources to immediately manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE), especially if Africa-based manufacturers (..) Failure to provide PPEs may result in the providers falling sick, and transmitting the infection to other patients, as well as to their communities, thus exacerbating the crisis.”

The article concludes on how important it is to take action to avoid the collapse of healthcare systems in the African continent: “(..) this crisis will highlight and exacerbate many existing deficiencies and inequalities in the African healthcare (..)Some of these healthcare systems may collapse entirely if immediate action is not taken. These are unprecedented times that call for urgent action.”

Dr. Darboe is a committed researcher calling all stakeholders to take action to prevent a catastrophe in the healthcare system in Africa. As a medical researcher, she is contributing to the fight against COVID-19, and at MMEG we are proud of her work during the pandemic. If you want to read the complete article, please click on this link.

If you found this post interesting, please “like” it and leave a comment to support our grantee and her work.

THANK YOU! MMEG Health Sector Grantees, one and all!

During this time of COVID19, we at MMEG are reminded of the substantial proportion of support we have given to women in the health arena over the years.  In our nearly 40-year history MMEG has provided more than a fifth of its 445 grants, to women studying private and public health. We have supported 98 grantees in their pursuit of degrees in specializations including nursing, medicine, obstetrics, physiotherapy, public health, pediatrics, microbiology, epidemiology, neurology, immunology, occupational therapy and molecular and cell biology among others.

These women in the medical profession later become nurses, doctors, researchers, professors and public health officials for hospitals, governments and universities across the world.

While many of the grantees in the health sector are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight; others carry on with their work and/or their research despite the virus.  These are women like Mainga Moono Banda (2009 Grantee) who is a Research Specialist for UNICEF in Nigeria; Morenike Akpo (2009 Grantee) who is Director of Peerless Hospital and Wellness in Nigeria; Rana Obeidat (2010 Grantee) who is the  Centre Director of Pharmaceutical Research at the Jordan University of Science and Technology; Sarah Elaraby (2017 Grantee) who is a Graduate Research Assistant of the Centre of Humanitarian Health, John Hopkins University; Kerry Kalweit (2017 Grantee) a General Manager at Youth With Diabetes; and Fatoumatta Darboe (2017 Grantee) who is  a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Medical Research Council of Gambia Unit at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Still other grantees serve by providing leadership as professors teaching the next generation at esteemed universities such as: Georgetown University Medical Center (Dr. Nadu Tuakli, Assistant Professor, 1984 Grantee), Washington State University (Kawkab Shishani, Associate Professor of Nursing, 2003 Grantee), the University of California (Patience Afulani, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2012 Grantee), the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka (Ramya Kumar, Lecturer, Department of Community and Family Medicine, 2014 Grantee); and the International University of Management in Namibia (Hilma Shikwambi, Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care Trainer, 2014 Grantee).

Regardless of where they apply their efforts these days, we want to give a big  THANK YOU to all MMEG grantees in the medical and health field.  We appreciate your work every day, but especially today when it is so needed and useful…and for the future.

Comfort Asoogo’s experience working as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse in Ghana, a limited-resource country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comfort Asoogo is one of our grantees from the South Africa program in 2010. Ms. Asoogo holds a Master’s in Nursing from University of Cape Town and a BSc in Oncology from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa. She lives and works in Ghana. 

Ghana has a total population of 30 million people and has reported 11,900 COVID-19 cases through June 15th, 2020. 4,200+ people have recovered according to the latest figures from the Ghana Health Ministry. It is under these conditions that Ms. Asoogo works as a head nurse in the Pediatric Oncology unit of the second largest hospital in Ghana. She is the head nurse and the key point of contact for the sanitation measures of the unit. She oversees the safety, not just of patients and their families, but also of the staff working in the hospital. 

Ms. Asoogo describes her experience:

COVID-19 Pandemic is a nightmare that I do not ever want to remember in my life. The pandemic has created a global surprise to us with Ghana not in isolation. In a developing country like Ghana, where there are limited resources or no equipment to work with, the pandemic made it worse. 

With my little experience in public health, I was equipped with knowledge and skills in managing infectious diseases. I reassured myself and kept calm adhering to all the preventive precautionary measures. As the in-charge of the Pediatric Oncology unit I needed to ensure safety of my staff, patients and the supporting families so I established a pre-triaging protocol where all patients and their parents as well staff are pre-screened by checking temperatures using the gun thermometer, hand washing protocol, hand sanitizer application and simple use of face mask. These were put in place to ensure early detection of suspected cases and isolate for further investigation. I also had the task of ensuring a sustainable staff strength at all levels. I had to put my staff in two groups with each group being divided into sub-groups to do a 12-hour shift on weekly bases and then the second group takes over. This was to reduce the contact time with patients in the hospital environment and achieving maximum patient care with less risk of contact with patients. It was also to make sure that in case of contact with positive patients, they could be quarantined then the other group takes over the ward so that the ward does not close.

With this I have been able to achieve a significant maximum patient care with little stress on my staff and recording no incident of suspected COVID-19 in my unit for now due to the stringent measures put in place even though my department had recorded more than 30 staff affected.

I also had to maintain social distancing on the unit by spacing out patient’s beds, reducing the number of visitors to one per day and making sure that staff are provided with basic protective equipment to work with. Taking this opportunity to thank World Child Cancer UK who supported my unit and staff with PPE from the onset till now.

My patient’s population is an at risk group hence I had to look around for accommodation for some patient’s around the hospital to stay and receive their chemotherapy so they don’t have to travel and mix with people in commercial vehicles thereby increasing their risk of contracting covid-19. World Child Cancer UK also sponsored this initiative. 

It has been a challenging time especially during limited or no PPE to work with putting people at risk, fear and panic but a learning experience as well especially hearing about the number of healthcare workers affected worldwide, with a few also affected in Ghana.

GirlGov Perú: An empowerment and leadership program for high school girls in Peru / GirlGov Perú: un programa de empoderamiento y liderazgo político para niñas y adolescentes de secundaria en Perú

Beatriz Córdova – Maestría, Estudios de Género, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. 2018.

Beatriz Córdova, es una de las coordinadoras de este programa de 8 meses que ha virtualizado toda su metodología para adaptarse a las nuevas "normas" impuestas por la pandemia de COVID.

Durante el programa de este año, las niñas y adolescentes tendrán la oportunidad de desarrollar iniciativas para el cambio social que reflejen cómo COVID-19 ha afectado específicamente su acceso a los derechos humanos.

Para más información sobre GirlGov- Perú:

https://wgfpa.org/our-work/girlgov/learn-more-about-girlgov-peru/

Beatriz Córdova - Master, Gender Studies, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. 2018. 2018.

Beatriz Córdova, is one of the coordinators of this 8-month program that has virtualized its entire methodology in order to adapt to the new “norms” imposed by the COVID pandemic.

During this year’s program, the girls will have the opportunity to develop initiatives for social change reflecting how COVID-19 has specifically affected girls’ access to human rights.

For more information on GirlGov- Perú:

https://wgfpa.org/our-work/girlgov/learn-more-about-girlgov-peru/

Petitions to the Peruvian Congress in the context of COVID-19 / Peticiones al Congreso de Perú sobre diversos temas en tiempos del COVID-19

Arlette Cindy Contreras, MMEG Latin America program, 2019 grantee. Peruana. Congresista independiente de la República de Perú 2020-21. Abogada/conciliadora extrajudicial/activista y estudiante de Máster en Derechos Humanos.

Dentro de su labor parlamentaria Arlette aborda la importancia de los marcos legales y la responsabilidad institucional del Congreso ante el agravamiento de la violencia de género y el femicidio, los escasos recursos de apoyo y revictimización de las víctimas por la burocracia, la no protección de los trabajadores del sector salud y la defensa del consumidor respecto del acaparamiento de productos y la especulación del oxígeno en tiempos de COVID-19.

Para conocer el alcance de su trabajo, siganla en sus redes sociales:

https://twitter.com/arlettecontrers

https://www.instagram.com/arlettecontrerasofficial/

Arlette Cindy Contreras, MMEG Latin America Program, 2019 grantee. Peruvian. Independent Congresswoman from the Republic of Perú 2020-21. Lawyer / extrajudicial conciliator / activist and Master’s student in Human Rights.

In her parliamentary work, Arlette addresses the importance of legal frameworks and the institutional responsibility of Congress particularly, as regards exacerbation of the effects of gender violence, femicide, and the scarcity of resources and bureaucratic victimization of women. She also addresses the lack of protection of workers in the health sector, and consumer defense against speculation and hoarding of products and oxygen supplies in the context of COVID-19.

If you are interested in following her work, visit her on social media:

https://twitter.com/arlettecontrers

https://www.instagram.com/arlettecontrerasofficial/

Kely Alfaro, an Activist in Peru / El activismo de Kely Alfaro

Kely Alfaro Montoya, MMEG Latin America Program, 2017. Peruana. Ingeniera, economista, estudiante de Máster en Economía Ambiental y fundadora de "Las Malcriadas", una organización voluntaria que visibiliza a mujeres que, en su búsqueda de independencia, han hecho y siguen haciendo historia con sus logros contra la violencia de género, independientemente de sus condiciones sociales y económicas.

Aquí compartimos algunas de sus publicaciones relacionadas con la pandemia.

QuédateEnCasa #NoEsFácil

El virus muestra que nuestra "normalidad" respecto a infraestructura del Estado y Servicios de Salud, en particular en zonas rurales es también parte del problema:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2871396126310891/?type=3&theater

El virus muestra que nuestra "normalidad" respecto a la vivienda y los servicios básicos es también parte del problema:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2871392552977915/?type=3&theater

El virus muestra que nuestra "normalidad" es también parte del problema:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2871212869662550/?type=3&theater

El virus muestra que nuestra "normalidad" laboral es también parte del problema: https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2870225393094631/?type=3&theater

En el texto “Las Malcriadas en el Perú que nos dan la posibilidad de soñar y construir nuestro destino” explica qué le llevó a crear esta plataforma.

Kely también forma parte de un colectivo de ciclistas urbanos ACTIBICIMO que defienden la bicicleta como alternativa necesaria y urgente más allá de la pandemia. En la revista del Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climático (https://www.mocicc.org/)

Kely desarrolla esta idea en un artículo: https://www.mocicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/REVISTA-ECOS-MAYO-2020-2-1.pdf

 Si quieren saber más y apoyar las actividades y reivindicaciones de Kelly Alfaro, síganla en su página de facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/

Kely Alfaro Montoya, MMEG Latin America Program, 2017 grantee. Peruvian. An engineer, an economist, and a student in a Master of Economics and Environmental Science program. She is also the founder of ‘Las Malcriadas’, a voluntary organization that draws attention to women who, in their search for independence, continue to make history with their achievements against gender violence irrespective of social and economic conditions.

Below are some of her posts on the topic of the current pandemic:

#QuédateEnCasa #NoEsFácil

The virus shows that our "normality" regarding state infrastructure and health services, particularly in rural areas, is also part of the problem:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2871396126310891/?type=3&theater

The virus shows that our "normality" regarding housing and basic services is also part of the problem:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2871392552977915/?type=3&theater

The virus shows that our "normality" is also part of the problem:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2871212869662550/?type=3&theater

The virus shows that our labor "normality" is also part of the problem:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/photos/a.234256070024923/2870225393094631/?type=3&theater

Here is the link to her article “Las Malcriadas en el Perú que nos dan la posibilidad de soñar y construir nuestro destino” (in Spanish) where she explains what moved her to create this platform.

Kely is also a member of an urban Bike Collective ACTIBICIMO which sees the bicycle as a necessary and urgent alternative to transportation going beyond the pandemic.

To read more: https://www.mocicc.org/

Kely develops this idea in an article in the magazine ECOS:

https://www.mocicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/REVISTA-ECOS-MAYO-2020-2-1.pdf

If you would like to know more and support her activities you can follow her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/malcridas/

Information is power and Dr. Tuakli knows it. During the pandemic she is writing a blog with key information on COVID-19

In 1984, Dr. Tuakli became the second grantee in the history of the Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG). She has a degree from the University of Zambia, and another one from Harvard University. She was a resident at Johns Hopkins and then at the University of Michigan. She is also part of the Board of Certified Physicians which oversees Preventive and Family Medicine. In addition, Dr. Tuakli is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a founding member of the Harvard Association of International Women. Dr. Tuakli is originally from Zimbabwe but lives and works in the United States.

During the pandemic, Dr. Tuakli is using the power of social media to spread her medical knowledge and experience during the pandemic. With her blog and videos, she wants to provide relevant information about COVID-19 to different audiences. She has written the following articles:

1. “Talking numbers and preventing deaths”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/05/talking-numbers-and-preventing-deaths.html

2. “Symptoms during COVID-19, the taste and smell”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/06/taste-and-smell-in-covid-not-old-wives.html

3. “I Can't Breathe, the Demonstrations and Equal Opportunity Virus Myths”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/06/i-cant-breathe-demonstrations-and-equal.html

4. “Show seniors some love. Let's protect them from Covid-19”. http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/05/show-seniors-some-love-lets-protect.html

5. “The ‘new’ COVID-19 disease in kids”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-new-covid-disease-in-kids.html

6. “Are we there yet? (AKA: Stop in the name of love!) Can you get Covid twice? Why do seniors die at higher rates with Covid?”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/05/are-we-there-yet-aka-stop-in-name-of.html

7. “The way out of lockdown.....the truth may set us free!”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/04/

8. “Does Vitamin D protect against Covid-19?”.

http://anti-agingdoctor.blogspot.com/2020/05/does-vivtamin-d-protect-against-covid-19.html

Dr. Tuakli has also videos with relevant information on COVID-19:

1. “Disparities in outcomes of Covid-19 and how we can help less fortunate members of the community boost their antioxidant levels and therefore their immunity”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2xZ0ZodfU8&list=PLuuxk8KZr30qo5_RLHb2yjsMOD6dEc23Y

2. “Opening up the schools safely after the Covid lockdown”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re_F63bZajA&list=PLuuxk8KZr30qo5_RLHb2yjsMOD6dEc23Y&index=3

3. “Let's show our seniors some love! How to save the elderly from Covid-19”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72YOFkzDeaM

4.“We are ready to open up yet after Covid-19?”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4yFGMWZr5M

5. “Why do seniors die from Covid? How do we change it?”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GhHxMxO5eM

Dr. Tuakli is a professional that is working to bring information on access to health to people all over the world. She is contributing to combat COVID-19, and from MMEG we applaud her effort!

“In any situation, let's keep the balance. Everything is temporary." / “Ante cualquier situación mantengamos el equilibrio Todo es temporal”, Corporación Equilibrio. Colombia.

Mirtza Molina Barrera, Latin America Program, 2015.Colombiana. Abogada. Trabaja para las Naciones Unidas en Colombia liderando acciones de apoyo humanitario y construcción de paz. Es voluntaria líder de la “Asociación Cultural Sancocho” y “Corporación Equilibrio” compuesta por jóvenes profesionales que buscan dinamizar procesos sociales y culturales.

Desde estas organizaciones están trabajando en tres frentes en cuanto a los retos de la pandemia:

• Recolección de alimentos y ayudas para la población vulnerable. (link del video pidiendo alimentos)

• Estrategias para la sostenibilidad y garantía de la cultura y las artes, como el uso de herramientas tecnológicas y redes para dar talleres y hacer llegar las presentaciones artísticas a los hogares. 

• Fortalecimiento del rol de los jóvenes, hombres y mujeres en la democracia y en los procesos sociales, sobre todo en tiempos de crisis como el actual.

• Agradeciendo a todas las personas que hacen posible que la vida siga durante la pandemia.

En este enlace puedes encontrar un video de la primera retransmisión de Radio Sancocho de la “Asociación Cultural Sancocho”

Si quieres saber más sobre la “Corporación Equilibrio” y la “Asociación Cultural Sancocho” sígueles en sus redes sociales:

https://www.instagram.com/corporacion_equilibrio/?hl=es-la 

https://es-la.facebook.com/CorporacionEquilibrio/

https://www.instagram.com/sancochofest/?hl=es-la

https://es-la.facebook.com/sancochofest/

Columbian Mirtza Molina Barrera from the Latin America Program in 2015 is a lawyer. She works for the United Nations in Colombia, leading humanitarian support programs and peace-building activities (efforts). She is a volunteer leader with the Sancocho Cultural Association and the Equilibrio Corporation, made up of young professionals who seek to energize social and cultural processes.

These organizations are working on three fronts to address the challenges of the pandemic:

• Food collection and aid for vulnerable populations. (link to the video)

• Strategies for the sustainability and support for culture and the arts, such as the use of technological tools and networks to give workshops and bring artistic presentations into homes.

• Strengthening the role of young people, men, and women in promoting democracy in
  social processes, especially in times of crisis, such as the current one.

• Thanking all the people who make life possible during the pandemic.

In this link you will find a video of the first broadcast of the Asociación Cultural Sancocho.

To learn more about Corporación Equilibrio and Asociación Cultural Sancocho follow them on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/corporacion_equilibrio/?hl=es-la 

https://es-la.facebook.com/CorporacionEquilibrio/

https://www.instagram.com/sancochofest/?hl=es-la

https://es-la.facebook.com/sancochofest/

The effects of Covid-19 in the marginal urban areas of Lima, Peru / Los efectos del Covid-19 en las zonas marginales de Lima, Perú

Eileen Contreras, Latin America Program, 2018. Peruana. Máster en Psicología comunitaria. Psicóloga actualmente trabajando en Samusocial.

En Samusocial realizamos atención psicosocial a poblaciones en situación de vulnerabilidad de las zonas urbanas marginales de Lima mediante la intervención de enfoques comunitarios trabajando  con la comunidad y el gobierno local. Asimismo realizamos visitas domiciliarias a casos que requieran alguna orientación psicológica, de los cuales la gran mayoría son casos de violencia.

Lamentablemente nuestra intervención se vio interrumpida por la llegada del Covid-19, por lo que continuar con las visitas domiciliarias, las charlas de sensibilización o los grupos de ayuda mutua sería poner en peligro a la comunidad y al equipo, por ello se restringió las visitas y se adaptaron las actividades para continuar con el trabajo de manera segura. Sin embargo, en la comunidad se presentaron una serie de variables contextuales que ha producido un incremento sustancial en la violencia de género:

1. Desde el 15 de Marzo se decretó cuarentena obligatoria en el Perú, hecho que aunque necesario, también puso en peligro a las familias que no tenían empleos formales y vivían del día a día.

2. El gobierno de Perú ha asignado un bono de alimentación a familias mas vulnerables y se ha escogido a las mujeres como receptoras de ese bono, hecho que hizo que muchos agresores hayan vuelto a buscar a las mujeres víctimas de violencia en busca de este dinero.

3. Debido a estos factores, los agresores han vuelto a sus casas y se ha registrado mayor número de violencia en la comunidad.

4. A pesar de que las mujeres buscan denunciar, el sistema de denuncias de Centro de Emergencias Mujer no se encuentra funcionando en su zona y las comisarías no aceptan sus denuncias por falta de personal policial.

Debido a esto, como Samusocial, hemos brindado apoyo en la distribución de alimentos, medicinas y apoyo a la labor de las postas de salud sobre todo en la vacunación contra el neumococo y la influenza. Para atender los casos de violencia aperturamos una línea directa de acompañamiento psicológico, hacemos seguimiento y aplicamos estrategias de cuidado y vigilancia comunitaria para auxiliar a la mujeres en casos de agresiones.

Para más información sobre Samusocial y cómo apoyar sus actividades visite:

http://www.samusocialperu.org/

En el siguiente video la Sra. Contreras habla de la ansiedad en el contexto de la cuarentena y cómo luchar contra ella en 6 estrategias. 

Eileen Contreras, Latin America Program, 2018. Psychologist. Master’s in Community Psychology, Universidad Pontificia, Peru, and currently working at Samusocial.

At Samusocial we provide psychosocial care for vulnerable populations in the marginal urban areas of Lima, working with the community and local government.  We also provide psychological counseling during home visits, where 70% are cases of violence.

Because of this, at Samusocial we have provided support in the distribution of food and medicines, especially vaccines against pneumococcus and influenza. 

Unfortunately, the arrival of Covid-19 interrupted our intervention and continuing with home visits, awareness talks, or aid groups would have endangered the community. A substantial increase in gender violence has worsened the situation.

1. Since March 15, a mandatory quarantine was decreed in Peru, a fact that also endangered families whose members do not have formal jobs and live on a day-to-day basis.

2. The Government of Peru has assigned food vouchers to the most vulnerable families and  chosen women as recipients of these vouchers. This has led many aggressors to return home to look for women they had previously victimized in search of this money.

3. Due to these factors, there have been greater incidences of violence in the community.

4. Despite women seeking to report these incidents, the complaint system of the Women's Emergency Center is not functioning properly and, due to a lack of police personnel, police stations do not accept victimization reports.

Because of this, at Samusocial we have provided support in distributing food and medicines, especially vaccines against pneumococcus and influenza. 

Samusocial has also opened a direct hotline to give psychological support to the cases of gender violence. We monitor and apply care and community surveillance strategies to help women in cases of assault. 

For more information about ‘SAMU social’ and how to support its activities you can visit:

http://www.samusocialperu.org/

In the following video Ms. Contreras talks about anxiety in the context of quarantine and how to fight it in six steps.

COVID-19 affects the most vulnerable families. / La COVID-19 afecta a las familias con economías más vulnerables. Perú.

Stefany Díaz Peña – 2016, Programa Latinoamérica, Maestría, Gerencia. Universidad Católica del Perú. 

Stefany es miembro del equipo de Huaral Emprende, quienes han lanzado un fondo de apoyo solidario para afrontar las secuelas ocasionadas por el COVID19 en los pequeños emprendedores locales ubicados en zonas de alta vulnerabilidad, en su mayoría mujeres.  Huaral Emprende es una iniciativa de Fundación CODESPA,  proyecto bajo el modelo de economía colaborativa que impulsa la recuperación económica y mejora la calidad de vida de aquellas familias con pequeños negocios que viven en los asentamientos de Huaral, al norte de Lima, Perú.

El proyecto Huaral Emprende en Perú afirma que “Covid 19 ha afectado a toda la población, pero sobre todo a las personas con mayor pobreza y vulnerabilidad, muchas de las cuales subsistían en pequeñas unidades económicas que generaban ingresos económicos diarios ”.

A pesar de su situación, muchos de ellos no fueron beneficiados por ningún bono, ni han recibido apoyo económico para su sustento familiar. Muchos de sus productos se perdieron por el periodo de cuarentena y cambio de temporada, quedando sin capital para continuar con sus negocios.

Los beneficiarios, en su mayoría mujeres, caracterizadas por una participación bastante activa y comprometida con el proyecto, son personas entusiastas, con iniciativa de mejorar su economía familiar, de buscar sus propios clientes y fortalecer sus negocios, sin embargo, la situación de cuarentena y aislamiento ha generado un clima de incertidumbre para estos negocios que ya se encontraban en marcha.

Para más información, echa una vista al Fondo de Solidaridad de Huaral Emprende para Covid-19/

Stefany Díaz Peña - 2016 grantee. Masters in Management. Catholic University of Peru.

Stefany is a founding member of Huaral Emprende, an economic recovery project, under the auspices of CODESPA Foundation, to improve the quality of life for families with small businesses living in the Huaral settlements, north of Lima, Perú.

The Huaral Emprende project in Peru states that “Covid 19 has affected the entire population, but especially the poorest and most vulnerable people, many of whom subsist by generating daily income. ”

Despite their situation, many have received no bonus, nor supplementary financial support for their families. Many of their products were lost due to the quarantine and the change of season, leaving them without capital to continue their businesses.

The (project) beneficiaries, mostly women, are active and enthusiastic participants committed to the project. They have the initiative to improve their family finances, to seek their own clients and strengthen their businesses. However, the coronavirus quarantine and isolation has created a climate of uncertainty for these businesses which were already underway.

For more information, Check out Huaral Emprende’s Solidarity Fund for Covid-19:

Increased stress levels for mothers during quarantine. / Aumento de los niveles de estrés para las madres durante la cuarentena. México.

Yahaira Ochoa Ortiz - 2017 Programa Latinoamérica. Maestría en Políticas Públicas y Estudios de Género/ Masters Degree, Public Policies and Gender Studies, FLACSO Mexico, 2017.  Yahaira trabaja como especialista en políticas públicas y género para la organización Salud Justa, en México. Como parte de sus responsabilidades, fue autura de un artículo sobre el aumento de los niveles de estrés en las mujeres durante la cuarentena de COVID en México.

“Antes de la pandemia muchas mujeres ya se enfrentaban a los dobles o triples jornadas laborales: cuidado de hijas e hijos, labores domésticas además de su trabajo remunerado, sin embargo, el COVID-19 agravó esta situación…”

Para leer mas haz clic aqui.

La misión de Salud Justa es promover el diseño y la aplicación de políticas públicas que contribuyan al ejercicio del derecho a la salud; dirige sus esfuerzos a la mejora de las condiciones de salud y al desarrollo sostenible del país.

Para más información sobre clic aqui.

Yahaira Ochoa Ortiz - 2017 Latin America grantee. Masters in Public Policy and Gender Studies, FLACSO Mexico. Yahaira works as a specialist in public policy and gender for the organization Salud Justa, in Mexico.  As part of her responsibilities, she authored an article on increased stress levels in women during the COVID quarantine in Mexico.

Before the pandemic, many women were already facing double or triple working hours: looking after daughters and sons, and doing domestic chores in addition to their paid work. COVID-19 worsened this situation…”

To read the full article click here.

The mission of Salud Justa is to promote the design and application of public policies that contribute to exercising the right to health. It aims to improve health conditions and to sustainable development of the country.

For more information on Salud Justa click here.

How have I been working as a black nurse during this pandemic, on the brink of (what seems to be a) modern day civil war? Washington D.C.

Veronique Taylor, 2017 grantee. Bachelor’s in nursing from Trinity Washington University. She is a front-line worker, as a nurse at Sibley Hospital in Washington DC during the pandemic.

“What a time to be alive! How have I been working as a black nurse during this pandemic, on the brink of what seems to be a modern day civil war? It’s been mentally draining and exhausting to say the least. I am tired. Hour by hour things change, there are meetings to be had and even fear as a nurse that I may be furloughed until the curve has flattened. 

Since the pandemic, I volunteered to be ‘deployed’ (this is how the hospital refers to it) indefinitely on an all COVID unit. Many nurses were terrified of the idea of being on an all COVID floor. I was not, I was concerned about job security. Not only my job, but I knew that the other nurses had to go home to families. It was just me and my puppy, so I did not mind volunteering for deployment. The purpose of the deployment was to protect our jobs as there was talk of my department going on diversion. They were already furloughing nurses more often than normal…”

To read Veronique’s full statement click here.

TOGETHER FOR CHILDREN 2020 / JUNTOS POR LA INFANCIA 2020. Adversity as a catalyst for positive change. / La adversidad como catalizador de cambios positivos. Perú.

Ines Roncagliolo, El Programa Latinoamérica 2018. Mestrado en Desarrollo Humano. Universidad Catolica del Peru. Actualmente es coordinadora pedagógica en “Transforma”, una asociación civil sin ánimo de lucro que, en alianza con líderes de la educación inicial (en su gran mayoría mujeres), mejora las prácticas docentes y las condiciones de las escuelas en distintos distritos de Lima.

www.transforma.org.pe

Juntos por la Infancia 2020 fue un evento virtual, organizado por Dinámica, Transforma y el Ministerio de Educación con el propósito de generar un espacio de reflexión y construcción de propuestas entorno a los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrenta la educación inicial en la coyuntura de COVID-19 en el Perú.

Junos por la Infancia 2020

Inés Roncagliolo, 2018 Latin America grantee.  Master’s in Human Development from the Catholic University of Peru.  She is currently the pedagogical coordinator of ‘Transforma,’ a non-profit organization, which in alliance with leaders of primary education (the vast majority women), improves teaching practices and school conditions in different districts of Lima.

www.transform.org.pe

Together for Children 2020 was a virtual event, organized by Dinámica, Transforma and the Ministry of Education to generate space for reflection and the development of proposals around the challenges and opportunities facing primary education in the context of COVID-19 in Perú.

Together for Children 2020

Parents are late in bringing their children to the hospital because of COVID-19 fear. Washington D.C.

Maria Vigil Ramos, RN, 2018 Trinity Washington grantee, is truly living her commitment to the welfare of women and children. She works at the Children’s National Hospital Emergency Room in DC, and told us that parents are arriving with very sick children because they waited too long out of fear of catching COVID-19.

Her advice is to bring the children to the hospital if they complain of chest pain, have fevers above 100.4F, or swelling of the face or extremities.

At the hospital, they are taking all possible precautions to give all children the best care possible while keeping them safe from infection.