A day in the life: GHI Field Educators during COVID-19

Rubungo Health Clinic is bustling with activity early one Wednesday morning. Two dozen mamas sit with their newborns in an airy spare room of the clinic, masks donned and one meter apart on wooden benches, as they wait for their babies’ names to be called. Today, they’re here for some of the babies’ first vaccines.

GHI Field Educator Epiphane teaches at Rubungo Health Clinic

But that’s not all that’s happening. At the front of the room, GHI Field Educator Epiphane has captured everyone’s attention. She’s delivering a brief nutrition and health training, focusing on our most important and relevant topics. As Epiphane talks through proper breastfeeding techniques – “sit up straight, and hold your baby like this,”– mamas continue to filter in. A handful of babies’ cries add to the noise of the health center.

Epiphane moves on to a balanced meal, using GHI’s four-color wheel to explain. The mamas absorb everything, repeating, “green to boost your immune system!” Meanwhile, the health clinic staff are finishing up the last of the vaccines, and the entire ensemble eventually moves outside.

There, dozens more mothers are waiting with their infants and young children, lined up alongside colorful, neatly pruned shrubs. Epiphane starts measuring and weighing the squirming kids, recording their measurements. She’s helping the health clinic and the Government of Rwanda screen children for malnutrition, referring severe cases to the clinic for care.

Epiphane’s days have been packed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Rwanda. She and the entire team of GHI field educators have been busy assisting health clinics by delivering nutrition and COVID-19 prevention trainings to families passing through the clinics’ doors. She adjusts the topics of the trainings each day to be most relevant to her audience. Between these nutrition crash courses and screening children for malnutrition, she’s also distributing direct food aid to the community’s most vulnerable families.

The effort is worth it. Through our talented field educators, GHI is reaching hundreds of families with essential messages during COVID-19 – many of whom have never heard this nutrition and health information before. One such mama is Rachel, who attended her first GHI training with newborn Ian in tow. “He’ll be one week old tomorrow,” she smiles.

New mama Rachel with one-week-old Ian.

“I learned a lot of lessons today,” Rachel reflects. “I learned about family planning methods, and that you can even start family planning directly after birth. I also learned that complementary feeding should only start after six months, and that it adds nutrients for the baby.” She also lists off the four colors of a balanced meal, giving examples of foods in each category. “Now, I can teach other families how to prepare a balanced meal. And I can teach a new mother how to care for her baby while breastfeeding and share knowledge about family planning.”

Like all mothers, Rachel simply wishes the best for Ian’s future. “I hope that he will grow up strong and have a good education. He’ll be an intelligent man who will be able to meet all his needs.”  GHI is helping Rachel, baby Ian, and hundreds of families across Rwanda get one step closer to that dream by equipping families with essential knowledge during these trying times.

Together, we can make a difference. Support GHI’s COVID-19 response by making a donation today.

Photos and story by Jessica Wright.