Community Health Facilitator

Job Description
Three of the biggest rural health challenges in Peru are anemia, chronic malnutrition and teenage pregnancy.

In Peru, one out of two kids under the age of five is impacted by anemia and one in ten by chronic malnutrition. Although there is a long history of chronic child malnutrition in Peru, between 2010 and 2019 remarkable progress was made due to inter-institutional collaboration between local governments and the Ministry of Health. The coordinated work resulted in a notable decrease in chronic malnutrition at the national level, however this positive change has not been reflected in many rural areas, as of the last measurement in 2022, prevalence (23.9%) was twice that of urban areas (11.7%). Most of the health facilities in these areas do not have enough personnel to cover all the work needed in health promotion practices and field education. The incorporation of local community health promoters has supported the fight against malnutrition and anemia. This is a niche for Peace Corps Volunteers to support the training and coaching of these important health promoters to reach the most underserved populations in peri- urban and rural communities of Peru.

Teenage pregnancy is common in rural areas, with one in five girls becoming pregnant before the age of 18. These rates are higher among young women with a primary education level than with those who possess a secondary or higher level of education. Traditional roles for women and high levels of poverty also contribute to this challenge. The Government of Peru has recently changed its strategy, focusing more on youth sexual and reproductive health, and the enhancement of adolescent life skills to support them in making more informed decisions. Peace Corps Volunteers work collaboratively with teachers and school psychologists through continuous training and the co-implementation of a peer education program.

Community Health Facilitators work directly with health service providers and school professionals to co-promote healthy behaviors that will contribute to the reduction of malnutrition, anemia, and adolescent pregnancy in Peruvian communities, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Health Service Model, mandated by the Ministry of Health. The work includes visiting the local health facility to coordinate health education promotion activities in urban and rural settings.

Community Health Facilitators also leverage relationships and capacity-building methodologies to work effectively and collaboratively with health service providers and school professionals. Together, they provide systems of support for adolescents to make positive lifestyle choices and deliver curriculum focused on sexual and reproductive health, life skills, nutrition, and basic mental health. This includes using interactive and participatory co-training approaches, allowing teachers and peer educators to apply these training methods. There are opportunities to co-develop public health monitoring and evaluation skills and facilitation techniques as trainers of trainers.

There are also numerous opportunities to participate in secondary activities. These might include (but are not limited to), co-organizing community-wide events such as summer classes, coaching sports and co-teaching English classes during summer classes.

Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in the health sector and one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field

OR

• 5 years' professional work experience

Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will meet tone or more of the following criteria:

Master of Public Health degree or Master of Arts/Master of Science degree in Public Health

Certified Physician Assistant or Public Health Nurse with expressed interest in public/community health

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, Health, or Nursing

Health education work or volunteer experience, such as maternal and child health, early childhood development, sexual and reproductive health promotion, and/or adolescent health education

Experience working in community health promotion, adolescent or maternal health areas; experience working in a high school context with teachers, adolescents, or mentors.

Experience working in a high school environment on adolescent health programs and using non-formal education techniques

Experience working with either Spanish-speaking populations and/or low-income rural populations.

One year of accumulated work experience (including, but not exclusively, volunteer experience)

Living Conditions
Geography and Climate:

Peru has three primary geographic regions: Pacific Coast, Andean mountains, and Amazon rainforest. The climatic conditions in each of these three regions are vastly different depending on the time of year. The Andean Mountain areas are often high-altitude communities with cold weather, experiencing a wet and dry season. Amazon rainforest communities experience more rain throughout the year and sometimes hotter climates.
Community Health Facilitators will be assigned to the Andean region. These communities are mostly in rural areas where water quality and accessibility can be challenging. Volunteers should expect to walk long distances on rough terrain on a regular basis.

The project focuses on working in small, rural communities where there is greater need for public health education, higher rates of malnutrition and anemia, opportunities for improved hygiene practices, and challenges related to traditional male and female roles.

Host Family:
All Volunteers are required to live with a host family during Pre-Service Training and in their assigned community for the full two years of service. Couples live with the same host family. The homestay experience supports the Volunteer with establishing safety and security strategies, strengthening language acquisition, and community integration. Although this can be a big adjustment for individuals who have lived independently, it is often one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences in a Volunteer's service.

Diet:
Peru is known as the gastronomic capital of South America for a reason. Peru is famous for "lomo saltado" (a stir-fried steak dish with peppers and onions), as well as many varieties of "aji" (a traditional spicy chili paste that goes great with meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables). While your daily diet may vary depending on your host community, there are plenty of opportunities to explore traditional Peruvian foods.

The Peruvian diet varies based on geographic location but, in general, it will include a high-starch diet (potatoes, rice, or Andean corn) and potentially include an option of meat, chicken, or fish. Host families will prepare meals based on what's available in their area and Volunteers should be prepared to eat with host families to show respect for their hospitality and culture. Host families are not accustomed to eating as many fruits and vegetables as Volunteers may be accustomed to, and they are not expected to prepare special meals for the Volunteer.

Transportation:
Peace Corps Peru expects that Volunteers can walk or use a bicycle to travel to and from work, for shopping for basic needs (food items, personal care, household essentials, etc.), and for other personal errands in their assigned community. Common methods of transportation include 'combis' [small buses], 'colectivos' [shared taxis], moto-taxis or 'tuk-tuks' [three-wheeled motorcycles].

Communication:
Wi-Fi availability at restaurants and cafes is common in Peru, especially in bigger cities. However, once a Volunteer is placed in their permanent community, they may or may not have access to the internet and may only have access when visiting a larger city.

Volunteers have found that bringing a laptop or tablet, while not a requirement, facilitates completing assignments during service.

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