[Bangladesh] Protecting the Health of Myanmar Refugees and Host Communities
At Peace Winds Japan, we are conducting health awareness activities to help vulnerable individuals in Myanmar refugee camps and host communities reduce health risks.
Supporting this work are individuals called “community volunteers.” These volunteers are selected from among the refugees and host community members and undergo over a month of training. They are then responsible for conveying important health knowledge to others.
Community volunteers mainly carry out the following activities:
- Group Awareness Campaigns – In target areas, they gather residents to convey health knowledge, such as the importance of prenatal checkups, risks during childbirth, prevention of non-communicable diseases (like hypertension and diabetes), and how to care for families with disabilities.
- Home Visits – They visit each resident’s home to conduct health checks and offer advice on seeking medical care.
The First Step, Despite the Nerves! The First Group Awareness Activity in Front of Residents Recently, community volunteers conducted their first group awareness activity in the target area. Although they appeared a bit nervous, they were able to effectively explain important topics like:
- “It’s important to receive prenatal care at a hospital during pregnancy.”
- “If you notice any warning signs during childbirth, go to a medical facility immediately.”
- “What are the benefits of giving birth at a hospital?”
Their efforts were monitored by senior community volunteers and Peace Winds staff, marking a significant step forward!
From the residents, we heard feedback like:
- “I learned a lot of things I didn’t know, and it was very helpful!”
- “I want to teach my family as well!”
The community volunteers feel a sense of accomplishment from the awareness activities.
Next Step: Home Visits! Thorough Preparation with a Pre-Test After the awareness activities, the next step is home visits. During home visits, volunteers will engage with each resident individually to offer health consultations, making communication skills very important. To prepare, role-playing and oral tests were conducted in advance.
The community volunteers said,
- “It’s my first time taking a test, but I’m confident because I received solid training!”
And with that confidence, they took the test.
After this preparation, home visits are now officially starting! We will continue to share updates on this, so please stay tuned!
Peace Winds Japan’s activities are made possible through grants from Japan Platform and donations from individuals and corporations.