Wuridje is a rural farming village located in Kedougou, Senegal. Unlike the village I lived in, this village was located deep in the bush and did not house a clinic making it difficult to seek treatment.
In May 2016, with the help of the local volunteer, I led a health talk on malaria prevention and treatment. Topics covered: the importance of sleeping under a bed net, respecting the seasonal chemoprophylaxis campaign for children, avoiding stagnant water accumulation near homes, malaria symptoms, and the importance of going to the health hut/clinic for a malaria test if symptoms arise.
In October 2016 I returned to give an interactive health talk on exclusive breastfeeding. Using visual aids, participants learned about the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and how it relates to malnutrition. Once the chat was complete, participants were asked questions to test their knowledge and clarify information they may not have initially understood.
Maria Castrillon 