News Article
June 10, 2009
Summer In the Field: Duke Undergraduates Provide Health Education to Children, Community in Naama, Uganda
Duke Undergraduates Dillon Barron, Lisa Deng, Neha Limaye, and Julie Segner have been in Naama, Uganda for two weeks. This is the second year in a row a team of Duke students has traveled to this small Ugandan village to conduct health assessments, and provide health education classes to school children.
So far on their journey they have taken Luganda lessons, one of the official languages of Uganda, so they’ll have basic conversational skills for the encounters with the children and teachers at the school.
“We finally start teaching tomorrow, which is very exciting!,” said Limaye. “We will be doing an introductory icebreaker and our lesson on basic hygiene. We will also have music classes with health-related songs. On Wednesday, we will be meeting with the teachers to identify one teacher who will oversee the garden, and one who can direct vocational training.”
Meanwhile, Limaye and Deng are learning how to build a “tippy tap,” a basic hand washing station to be installed at Naama school.
In two short weeks, the group has made great strides, and is even planning to set up a health fair at the end of June. The health fair will include HIV testing, health speakers, and a local drama troupe performance.
Barron and Segner are surveying the community and establishing contacts with other groups and organizations in the area. In order to prepare for the adult education classes, Segner and Barron have met with discussion groups to see the best dates and manner of teaching these.
As their time in Uganda moves forward this group will be working more on educating the schools and surveying communities.
