Peace Corps responses to HIV/AIDS from within

Hi all,
I am back from a long blogging hiatus with a piece that I wrote for Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary. Enjoy!

Peace Corps responses to HIV/AIDS from within

What does the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic look like nearly three decades into this ravaging disease’s tenure? How can we come from abroad armed only with knowledge of the epidemic and the will to make a difference and translate that into action which leaves a positive impact? These are difficult questions to answer. We have learned from years of experience that there are many development strategies that do not work and some that even become counterproductive, creating dependency on aid or destabilizing local economies. However, we have also seen development programs that give us hope, that originate from within communities and respond to the root causes of our woes. That we all have the ability to make change may be true, but good intentions alone will not suffice. Just as with other development programs, an effective response to HIV/AIDS is hard won and comes from within.

In my brief experience in Malawi working with the Department of Health and Social Services at the Zomba City Council the key to eliciting the answer from within lay in finding those willing to critically assess their role in responding to the epidemic and supporting their efforts. Thinking holistically, my counterpart and I took a closer look at how the department ensures for the delivery of all of its health services. Our first step was to better understand the health and wellbeing of the city’s residents. Moving from anecdotal observations to systematically collected information, we shaped a clearer picture of the health of Zomba City, acknowledging the heterogeneity of the city. From such a perspective, we are able to prioritize improvements in key health services in critical areas of the city and have united with all of Malawi’s urban councils to seek structural changes in local governance, allowing motivated Malawians the opportunity to better serve those in need.

Just as HIV/AIDS destroys the body’s ability to fight off infection and heal, mismanaged and underfunded health systems take away the government’s ability to prevent disease and provide treatment and care for those suffering. Improving health systems is like prescribing ARTs, as it enables the country to regain control and heal itself. In development jargon it is called health systems strengthening. It is the slow and strategic process of realigning the country’s public health services to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other health challenges. It is not a quick fix, but consistently pursued it is a crucial part of the HIV/AIDS response as well as an important step toward improving the overall wellbeing of Malawians.

I consider it a privilege to have been a small part of this important process in Malawi and it is my sincere hope that Peace Corps Malawi will continue to play its important role, in villages and cities, to promote sound development from within.

Mike Dalious
Peace Corps Response Volunteer 2010-11