nayavill – Page 26 – Gillings Around the globe

Through Unity

Posted on July 8, 2020 by nayavill

As I write this, it’s nearly unbelievable that over three months have passed since COVID-19 was on the news and rapidly spreading across the globe. A weekly Zoom call, hours in front of my screen, and my newfound amusement for staring out the window surely do not help tally or structure my days. Like for many others I expect, the reality of our situation seeped in fast. What some swiftly shrugged off soon came to be something that shook the entire nation and beyond. Now we face our days asking if things will ever be the same, and it’s getting harder to recall what life was like before COVID-19. Nevertheless, while this new normal has taken some time getting used to and more and more things seem to be uncertain, some genuinely special joys have emerged amidst this pandemic. This threat has asked us to reflect on what connection looks like and has given us the pause to envision what a strong community can truly look like—and in this field, my preceptor and practicum organization surely deserve the stage.

Zoom meeting with the Director and Coordinator of CAS' research unit. — Zoom meeting with the Director and Coordinator of CAS’ research unit.

Not only have I been grateful to practice qualitative research skills in the context of HIV self-testing through my practicum, but I have learned what the strength of a community can do for the health and wellbeing of one another. Colectivo Amigos contra el SIDA (CAS) has been ahead of the curve and thriving thanks to their cohesion and connectedness to their community. CAS works tirelessly to improve gay men’s health in Guatemala City and during this pandemic, they have gone above and beyond to remain available and supportive of their communities. Undoubtedly, CAS is one of the leading community-based sexual health organizations in Latin America, but they truly stand out because of how they engage with and equip their communities, and how they adapt and respond to their community’s most pressing challenges.

It has been outstanding to recognize and appreciate that the success of CAS’ programs and initiatives are all because of the genuine care, love and attention they place on their community. CAS has the reach and impact they do because their leadership, staff, and volunteers are devoted to combatting HIV and other infectious diseases and advocating for their people. This spirit of community is something that will stay with me even beyond the confines of my career and I am sincerely honored to be working with the incredible team at CAS now and during this pandemic. They have shared not only tools with me but have taught me that the driver of change comes from the passion and cooperation of groups of people who have respect for one another and a vision for a better, healthier future.

Zamantha

Thinking outside the box from a box

Posted on July 8, 2020 by nayavill

You can also replace the box with a ‘bubble.’ Very apt for all the online packages and delivery boxes we may be receiving during this global pandemic or the expansion of a personal bubble due to social distancing. A year ago, as a prospective global health student, I imagined my summer practicum would be in Nepal, my home. Instead, I am here in Chapel Hill as I have been working from a box in a box for the past three months, i.e. my laptop [end of metaphor, *fingers crossed*]. Ironically, I also realize that if it weren’t for COVID-19, my amazing practicum would have never transpired.

As multiple full-proof plans for the summer fell through during the Spring semester, the North Carolina Institute for Public Health (NCIPH) reached out to integrate with a project in our Photovoice class about COVID-19. It allowed us to create our narrative during the eve of the pandemic and conduct qualitative analysis. I was eager to continue learning more about the process and applied for their summer practicum posting. I was allowed to carve my path and position within the project. This summer, I am working with three other brilliant UNC Gillings MPH students to collect and archive stories from around the state, the nation, and the world. The objective is to curate healthcare workers’ stories during the COVID-19 pandemic and supplement the numerical data. It is almost equivalent to a scoping review practice for a bigger project of creating an interactive map of stories throughout the pandemic, Behind the numbers. I collaborate to sift through hundreds of potential online stories and am individually responsible for tagging and analyzing them from an equity perspective.

We come up with various themes and analyze trends that may be revealed. We confirm the patterns with each other and try to fill in gaps. We also highlight the limitations (Eurocentric, language barriers, publication biases) of the project and challenges of mental and emotional exhaustion of burning through the news after new and social media posts. Lack of resources, violence on health care workers, racism and health disparity, protests and solidarity are some of the themes we have been playing around with for the past couple of weeks.

A break from the box. I broke my ankle while learning to bike more than a year ago. I finally mustered up the courage to learn again this summer. Resilience is the goal – especially during a global pandemic.

Every day we wake up to new information around the world and play catch up to encompass what stands out to us in our data collection. We have begun to create a virtual working meeting to hold each other accountable as we work from our couch/bed/kitchen counter. (I have also retired my desk at this point – I resent my office desk.) The designated times, however, does allow for some normalcy and routine, which was extremely helpful. [Resume metaphor] Creating boxes of time for productivity and a sense of solidarity, again within a box- my apartment. And within that solidarity, among my colleagues, peers and friends in Chapel Hill, I am beginning to create a new sense of comfort and home.

Alpha

Finding strength in adaptation

Posted on July 7, 2020 by nayavill

This summer, I am completing my practicum with NARAL Pro-Choice NC. I have been working on developing more concise and compelling messaging for NARAL’s awareness and educational campaigns on reproductive health access and the harm of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). CPCs are organizations (typically non-profits) that pose as full-service reproductive health centers but only offer pregnancy tests, and sometimes an ultrasound and select STI testing, and exist to persuade women to not obtain abortions through manipulative language and tactics. Through my work, I’ve been fortunate enough to chat with many of NARAL’s stakeholders and equity partners about their views, experiences with, and thoughts regarding CPCs, the reproductive healthcare access – or lack thereof – in their communities, and what they think equitable reproductive healthcare access looks like. I’ve also been learning more about the policy and advocacy side of public health work, and I have taken to following Supreme Court decisions – it’s been quite a surprising month. I was definitely lucky that I was able to work remotely with NARAL with relative ease. While I wish I was able to work in their office and hang around my colleagues more often, I have been learning so much from our weekly staff meetings and conversations with my amazing preceptor.

To add some physical activity to my days, I’ve converted my porch into an outdoor gym, which has been made even more beautiful by my roommate’s newfound horticultural skills. I’ve also been able to continue teaching live group exercise classes twice a week on UNC Campus Recreation’s Facebook page. I sincerely miss being able to feel the energy from the super hard-working participants of my HIIT and Core classes, but I’ve been taking this time to gain more fitness and wellness knowledge to enhance my classes when I am able to teach in-person again.

This has been an anxiety-ridden and tense time for all of us, but undoubtedly, we are witnessing a necessary and overdue revolution. While my practicum experience looks a little different than I imagined when I first came to Gillings, I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity I do and to be able to play a tiny part in fighting for reproductive health and justice for all.

One of my favorite graphics showing the multi-faceted and intersectional nature of reproductive justice

Stay strong,

Rachel