EGPAF and Peace Corps: In the Spirit of Service

Fifty-three years ago, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to help tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is proud to celebrate Peace Corps Week and honor the commitments of the amazing Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) that support EGPAF’s work to eliminate pediatric HIV in Mozambique. Currently, EGPAF supports 10 PCVs in Gaza Province and four PCVs in Cabo Delgado Province, two of the highest HIV prevalence regions in Mozambique.

As a former Peace Corps Volunteer (Mali, 2003-2005), I know firsthand how hard it can be to leave the world you know for a two-year commitment in a remote village in a foreign country.  You have to learn almost everything from scratch—language, customs, how to eat, and in some cases, how to use the bathrooms.  It is with all of this in mind that EGPAF aims to support the PCVs as best we can—both professionally and logistically. During their service, EGPAF gives PCVs a detailed orientation and introduction to the program’s activities and provides ongoing trainings and support throughout their service, related to  community and psychosocial support activities, gender-based violence prevention, and many other topics.

PCVs are fully integrated in the community where they work, making them critical to EGPAF’s HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support activities. They help mobilize participation in HIV testing campaigns, create and maintain support groups, including maes para maes (mothers to mothers for HIV –positive pregnant mothers) and Community Adherence Support Groups (Grupos de Apoio a Adesão Comunitária- GAAC), lead health, nutrition and sanitation talks, host radio shows, trace HIV patients who have defaulted on treatment,  and many other activities.

PCVs also help strengthen community health systems by building management capacity of health workers; improving the data and record flow throughout clinics and hospitals; and ensuring efficient use of monitoring tools and the collection, compilation, and analysis of data.

It is an honor to work with PCVs– they bring energy and fresh ideas to our community- and facility-based work. I admire the dedication and sacrifice this group of volunteers makes for the people of their communities, EGPAF, and Mozambique as they complete the “toughest job [they will] ever love.”

Learn more about EGPAF’s partnership with the Peace Corps in Mozambique.

Sean Maher is EGPAF’s public health fellowship and community adherence program manager, based in Mozambique.