Bridging Gaps for Health and Equity: Student-Led Initiatives in Underserved Communities
Temple PHBB students are partnering with the Global Health Alliance and the Philadelphia “Madrugadores” Rotary club in the small town of Enriquillo and the Haitian immigrant community of Peñalba to support training in the management of chronic diseases, and to develop educational activities on hygiene, bullying, and gender equity in elementary and high schools.
2022: PHBB’s first trip was in October 2022 to visit the community and get a better understanding of our partners and their goals. We visited Enriquillo, the main hospital in Enriquillo, and the Haitian immigrant community of Penalva. We talked to leaders and community members about their water issues, we visited a primary school and talked to the teachers about their challenges, and visited the Regional Board of Education.
2023: PHBB returned to Enriquillo and Peñalba in June of 2023. We conducted surveys among 36 households and delivered a handwashing activity among 55 elementary school age children in Peñalba, led four focus groups among high school students, delivered a presentation on effective communication to approximately 15 health promoters at the main hospital, and distributed educational materials to six businesses in Enriquillo.
2024: In May 2024 we returned to the two communities and the students implemented educational activities for children and parents on handwashing, oral health and healthy communication at the school in Peñalba, implemented educational activities on sexual health, bullying and effective communication at the high school in Enriquillo. We also met with the President, three Vice-Chancellors, and a member of the Board of Regents from the Universidad Católica Tecnológica de Barahona (UCATEBA), and members from Executive Board of the Barahona Rotary Club to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities.