During PST, us PCT learned
all about TB, ABC, malaria, Schisto, and received many vaccines from our
PCMO’s. The PCMO’s told us that if we
get injured we are entitled to FECA. Depending
on the severity, you could find yourself recuperating in South Africa. You receive a per diem and some PCV’s who
have had to travel there ending up saving their money to buy a refrigerator and
a toaster oven, which means cold beer and cookies. Not to shabby…
The dynamic duo of health
PM and PS spent many hours educating us on HIV/AIDS (hopefully you know what
this stands for!), MCT, PMTCT, PEPFAR, VMMC, FP, VCT, M&E, VHT, PACA, VSLA,
RUMPS, WASH, and ABC. We also had PCRV’s
come in, who are RPCV’s who have applied for a specific job for a specific time
frame, anywhere from 3 months to a year.
These people talked to us about PMI, IRS, and LLIN.
Our wonderful PC/U staff,
made up of the CD, SSO, PM, PS, PCMO, in addition to others spent many
mornings, afternoons, and evenings with us.
They talked to us about the US Dollar exchange to the UGX, how to bucket
bathe, wash clothes, how to respond in the event of having to implement the
EAP, the history of the GOU, the importance of using the VRT and the SAP.
During training, I ran for
and got elected as one of my training class representatives to serve on
VAC. This means every three months I
will travel to Kampala to sit in on meeting with the CD and other PC/U staff to
address different areas. Essentially I
will help my training class be heard in areas of concern, praise, ideas,
etc.
It was during this time
that I was assigned to learn R/R, a language spoken in the Southwest region of
the country. I had approximately six
weeks to learn, study, and practice before taking my LPI, which I had to pass
at a level of Intermediate Low. I got
Intermediate Med. Bam!
Upon completing PST, we
were sworn in and officially became PCV’s.
This meant that we had completed our FSV, CBT, and CBC. The 45 of us would now move about the
country. Many of us will not see each
other until IST in November.
Since being at site, I
have started to think about what PC/U programs I would like to get involved
in. These include Camp GLOW, Camp BUILD,
MCH, start an IGA with at risk women, and WASH… I was thinking a program with
school children called, “Happy Handwashing Hour.” Catchy.
I have been introduced to some of the members on my LC, which helps
increase my network here in my village.
Hopefully they will assist me with getting the word out about programs
that I anticipate doing.
As many PCV’s say, these
next two years will go by quickly and before you know it you will be at your
COS conference and will be an RPCV. That
is if we do not ET beforehand!
Now you didn’t think I’d
leave you without a key did you?!
PC: Peace Corps
PST: Pre-Service Training
PC/U: Peace Corps Uganda
PCT: Peace Corps Trainee
TB: Tuberculosis
ABC: Airway, Breathing, and
Circulation
PCMO: Peace Corps Medical
Officer
FECA: Federal Employment
Compensation Act
PM: Program Manager
PS: Program Specialist
PS: Program Specialist
MCT: Maternal Child Health
PMTCT: Prevention of
Mother To Child Transmission
PEPFAR: President’s Emergency
Plan For AIDS Relief
VMMC: Voluntary Medical
Male Circumcision
FP: Family Planning
VCT: Voluntary Counseling
and Testing
M&E: Monitoring &
Evaluation
VHT: Village Health Teams
PACA: Participatory
Analysis for Community Action
VSLA: Village Savings and
Loan Association
RUMPS: Re-Usable Menstrual
Pads
WASH: Water, Sanitation,
and Hygiene
ABC: Abstinence, Be
Faithful, Use Condoms
PCRV: Peace Corps Response
Volunteer
RPCV: Returned Peace Corps
Volunteer
PMI: President’s Malaria
Initiative
IRS: Indoor Residual
Spraying
LLIN: Long Lasting
Insecticide Net
CD: Country Director
SSO: Safety and Security
Officer
UGX: Ugandan Shilling
EAP: Emergency Action Plan
GOU: Government Of Uganda
VRT: Volunteer Reporting
Tool
SAP: Strategic Action Plan
VAC: Volunteer Advisory
Committee
R/R: Runyankore/Rukiga
LPI: Language Proficiency
Interview
PCV: Peace Corps Volunteer
FSV: Future Site Visit
CBT: Community Based
Training
CBC: Competency Based
Curriculum
IST: In-Service Training
GLOW: Girl’s Leading Our
World
BUILD: Boys in Uganda In
Leadership and Development
IGA: Income Generating
Activity
LC: Local Council
COS: Close Of Service
ET: Early Termination
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