Home Sweet Home

IMG_6587

Hanoi is slowly but surely beginning to feel like home. My neighborhood, centered around Truc Bach Lake, boasts numerous cool coffeehouses, restaurants, bia hoi (beer) joints, a Fivimart (my local grocery story), etc., but the best feature is the lively market directly across the street! Vendors with hoards of fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, live fish, shrimp, crabs, ducks, chickens, pigs, you name it can be found! Unfortunately, thit cho (dog meat) is also available, but so far, I’ve managed to avoid that particular section of the meat market.

IMG_6434

Regardless, I’m able to purchase fresh ingredients daily, making culinary experiences that much more divine! Mrs. Nam, my Vietnamese cook, comes in twice a week to prepare a plethora of gourmet meals. And now she’s learned how to make homemade whole wheat tortillas, fresh salsa and sour cream! I’m in heaven!

IMG_6445

Plus, my apartment is quickly becoming my refuge from the chaotic streets below. Artwork now plasters the walls, yet there’s plenty of room to shop for lacquer ware, wood-carvings and other visual delights throughout Asia to fill in the nooks and crannies.

IMG_6478

Now all I need is a little Chihuahua to make my world complete. Interestingly enough, I’m hiring Marcie Friedman’s housekeeper (Marcie not only happens to be Kinky Friedman’s sister, but also one of my dear friends in Vietnam) to look after my non-existent puppy!

IMG_6534
(Burning incense at the pagoda)

On the health front, I’ve recovered from my oral surgery – granted, I’m still getting used to the gaping hole on the side of my mouth. But my ankle is still bothering me. Turns out I have a high-ankle sprain (Syndesomosis ligament injury), which may take up to six months to heal. Meanwhile, I’m starting to become a little depressed due to a lack of exercise and mobility.

IMG_6514

On a positive note, I’m finally getting a handle on my job, which continues to be challenging yet rewarding. Over the past few weeks, I’ve conducted several Data Quality Assessment site visits with some of our PACT partners. As a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) technical advisor, it’s imperative to understand how M&E systems are operationalized in the field, to critically review data collection instruments and processes, and to gain an understanding of data flow, e.g., how information literally gets from the facility to the national level.

IMG_6501

I visited three different kinds of facilities. First, an antiretroviral (ART) clinic at Hai Phong’s District Hospital, a community home-based care (CHBC) program that provides palliative care services for people affected and effected by HIV/AIDS as well as for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs), and a MSM (men having sex with men) drop-in center.

IMG_6489
(Came across some random theme park in the middle of nowhere)

Ironically, the cumulative total of patients that have ever started ARVs at this particular clinic was 220…in Malawi, Lighthouse would see that many patients on any given day. Once again, this really exemplifies the dichotomy between Africa and Asia’s HIV epidemic.

IMG_6634
(Drying noodles)

Back to the DQAs, each facility had its strengths and weaknesses, but what struck me the most was the reporting burden for caregivers in the CHBC program. Each caregiver has, on average, 40 patients (20 adults and 20 children) that they visit on a monthly basis. These caregivers are VOLUNTEERS, yet are required to fill out ten different reporting forms, each one more complicated and cumbersome than the next. As a result, most of their time is spent filling out paperwork as opposed to providing much needed services.

IMG_6435

And, what’s even more disturbing – all of the indicators are donor driven (i.e., PEPFAR). None of the data are being reported to the Ministry of Health, nor are they being used to inform the program.

IMG_6671

In my opinion, too many decisions are made without careful consideration of its implications in the field. It’s very easy for persons in Washington DC, Atlanta, Academia, or the Ministry of Health to brainstorm on different indicators that may be ‘interesting’ or ‘useful’ to collect without having a clear vision of how they plan to utilize that information.

IMG_6453
(The lovely sisters in the old pagoda)

My goal is to streamline and simplify this process as quickly as possible. I worry that if things remain the same, our volunteers may stop providing services. After all, they’re already complaining that these new reporting requirements are serving as a de-motivator to work.

IMG_6555
(Making friends at the pagoda)

On another note, I’ve been enjoying my new role as ‘USAID Representative’ at high profile meetings and workshops. In fact, I recently gave the closing remarks at an HIV/AIDS dissemination conference at Hai Phong Medical University – which even made the local press!

IMG_6614
(Stopping for directions)

Finally, I’m starting to meet interesting people and getting out to explore the countryside! On Saturday, Tamara, Jos, Gerrit and I hopped on motorbikes and headed West to see what we could find. With compass and GPS in tow, we wound our way down back alleys, side streets, and dirt lanes and discovered the real beauty of Vietnam.

IMG_6566
(Tamara, Jos, Gerrit)

One of the highlights was finding an old pagoda managed by two sisters, age 72 and 75. They were so sweet and even invited us into their home for tea and biscuits. I so desperately wished that I could speak Vietnamese. We tried so hard to communicate, but only managed to do hand gestures with lots of smiling and laughter. But their warmth and graciousness is indicative of the Vietnam that I’ve come to know!

IMG_6464
(Tea and biscuits)

IMG_6397

I look forward to more discoveries…to building new friendships…and to improving the M&E systems in Vietnam.

IMG_6673
(Linda, Petra and Melissa – my first house guests!)

IMG_6682
(Arnout and Jelena – Easter Sunday)

IMG_0378
(Saying good-bye to Sarah – who’s moving to Nigeria)

Sending much love,
Amy

Leave a Reply

 

 

 

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>