By Samrawit Gougsa
Population Services International (PSI) Ambassador Mandy Moore, Mom Bloggers for Social Good Founder Jennifer James and PSI Vice President of External Relations and Communications Marshall Stowell spoke on a call about their recent trip to Tanzania, which spotlighted the vital contributions of health workers in developing countries — particularly important in light of the shortage of 7.2 million worldwide.
“I think it’s really about our support and our voices helping to mobilize health workers around the world,” said Mandy to those who dialed in, which included members of Mom Bloggers For Social Good and the ONE Campaign’s Girls and Women Team, “so that when a baby is born or where a woman lives doesn’t have to dictate how many years she will live.”
Several of the participants submitted questions, such as a blogger from Bizmommy.com who asked if Mandy or Jennifer witnessed any government or religious group resistance to contraception education in Tanzania. “I saw actually no resistance,” Jennifer answered. “[It was] great to see these women knew they had options, knew that they could get whatever birth control they wanted. They could space births and therefore have more options for their lives.”
Listen in below to answers from both Mandy and Jennifer as they describe the individuals they met, services they witnessed and education they absorbed. They share exactly how important the health work force is to the lives of women and families in Tanzania and throughout the developing world.
- Blandina’s Story- A Community Health Worker in Tanzania. (1:55)
- Did you see any government resistance in TZ regarding birth control education? (1:55)
- Is being a health worker a respectable position in Tanzania? (1:12)
- Moms for Social Good founder Jennifer James tells what surprised her the most about Tanzania. (0:51)
- Private Sector Clinic, A Place with a Caring Attitude (0:52)
- What can I do to help? (0:42)
- What impact are private sector health clinics having in Tanzania? (0:55)
- What’s the feeling between health workers and people in Tanzania? (1:10)
- Where Ebola Isn’t (1:12)
- Why would Tanzanian health workers work in the private sector rather than the public sector? (1:53)
Photo: Marshall Stowell, Jennifer James and Mandy Moore speak with Familia clinic owner Dr. John Rukazimbwa. (Credit: Trevor Snapp)