I’m grateful to have had the chance to visit Hammanskraal and speak to the community health workers today. It was one thing to imagine them through the brief descriptions provided by Arne and Ingrid in our meeting with TB Proof, but it was a completely different experience getting to know them personally. Professor Jonathan reiterated a profound point on the ride home afterward that stood out to me- something along the lines of the importance of coming in and meeting the workers without cameras first to establish genuine human connections. And I now see the full value in that statement after the amazing conversations I’ve had today.
CHWs are community health workers. They work alongside local clinics and serve many households in their assigned neighborhoods. I later learned that each CHW is assigned 250 houses to register, screen, and follow up with on a daily basis. They take on the responsibilities of nurses, friends, messengers, and much more- visiting their communities house-by-house in person and ensuring that every individual is in good mental and physical health.
When we arrived, we were greeted by many new faces but through some randomized sorting processes, I got to talk to three amazing CHWs: H, M, and A. (Names shortened for confidentiality). I thought it would be hard to appear friendly and make them feel comfortable confiding in me, but they were very welcoming of our presence in their space. I initially asked them open-ended questions about their work as a group of three, but eventually found myself asking about their personal lives away from their jobs.
They instantly mentioned the severe lack of resources and equipment. Hand sanitizer, masks, blood pressure monitors, glucometers, thermometers, and even transportation between the homes they visit is lackluster. A has to commute 40 minutes to and from work and has to walk to all of the homes she is assigned to. H and A then brought my attention to how much they desired formal education and training for their jobs and how they wanted to advance their goals and careers but are limited by the lack of resources and opportunities. The extent of their emotional/ trauma counseling comes from daily or weekly debriefings and sharing sessions where they seek comfort and counseling from one another despite the heavy toll that their job has on their mental wellbeing. All of these issues broke my heart and brought me to tears. I want nothing more than to finish this project as soon as possible to show the world just how hard they work and how deserving they are of the opportunities they can only dream of for now.
It was made very clear to me that the work of CHWs is appreciated locally but goes unnoticed beyond the homes and communities of the patients they visit. I want to change this above all else with the film that we’re making with them.
