Author - Joanne Roll

In 1966, Mary Myers Bruckenstein, RN and Peace Corps Volunteer was teaching in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, when she was introduced to a tragic little girl, Berhane Daba. Four year old Daba had polio and couldn’t walk. Her family was unable to care for her. An operation to strengthen her legs left her in a full body cast. The orphanage would not take Daba back because they could not care for her. Mary Meyers-Bruckenstein took Daba into her home and into her life. A life long relationship began.  Merle English describes this beautiful story in an article in the Sunday, August 16, 2015 issue of Newsday. Here is the link to read it. http://origin.misc.pagesuite.com/pdfdownload/c72baa3a-5fc3-4ae2-980f-21248b8e93e9.pdf From the article: “On June 6, in an auditorium at the University of California, Berkeley, Myers-Bruckenstein, 69, a retired registered nurse and former Peace Corps Volunteer beamed like a proud mother as Berhane Daba, an Ethiopian orphan whose . . .

Peace Corps Volunteers are fighting HIV/AID and winning!  Here is the press release from Peace Corps. “WASHINGTON, D.C., August 6, 2015 – Today Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet welcomed U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Deborah Birx, the head of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), for a town hall-style meeting at Peace Corps headquarters. During the discussion, Ambassador Birx and Director Hessler-Radelet spoke of PEPFAR’s progress and reiterated the importance of reaching epidemic control. Ambassador Birx also thanked Peace Corps volunteers for their work in the fight against HIV/AIDS, emphasizing the important role the agency plays in creating sustainable, community-led responses to HIV in countries around the world. “The Peace Corps has been a critical contributor to PEPFAR’s‎ success from the onset of the program,” said Ambassador Birx. “Peace Corps volunteers occupy unique positions of within the communities that they serve, which support PEPFAR’s ability to deliver life-saving . . .

Last February, Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet spoke at Calvin University. The article reports Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet saying: ““Peace Corps does not mind at all if people practice their faith; in fact, we welcome it,” she continued. “We do discourage proselytizing because we are a government agency. But I think individual Christians are able to live their faith and are able to participate in local faith communities as members.” In part as a recognition of this, Hessler-Radelet explained, the Peace Corps recently started a new faith initiative which intends both to connect with faith-based NGOs and networks in the United States, and also to better support communities of faith overseas. While this initiative is a new step for the Peace Corps, Hessler-Radelet does not see it as a dramatic change. To read her comments, here is the link: http://www.calvin.edu/chimes/2015/02/12/peace-corps-director-opens-up-on-faith-development-and-changes-in-the-peace-corps/ I made a Freedom of Information Request, March 30, 2015, to learn more about . . .

 Here is a welcome column by Nicholas Kristof about benevolent billionaires, Bill and Melinda Gates. In this New York Times discussion, Kristof recounts interviews with Bill and Melinda as they reflect on their 15 years work in the developing world. Here is the text to link to: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-bill-and-melinda-gatess-pillow-talk.html?_r=0 The Gates talk about what they have learned and how they have adjusted their thinking about what works and what is problematic. Their efforts are tremendous and valuable. From the article: “So what mistakes did they make in their philanthropy? They say they started out too tech-focused. Now some of the measures they promote are distinctly low-tech — like breast-feeding, which could save the lives of more than 800,000 children worldwide each year. Likewise, they say, they didn’t appreciate how hard it was to translate scientific breakthroughs into actual progress in remote villages. The challenges of delivering real impact, in environments where . . .

For the last few years, a research team at Baylor University has been studying the possible link between the use of chloroquine (Aralen) and a reduced risk of breast cancer.  RPCV women have been the targeted demographic. Now, this phase of the study is ending, the use of the questionnaire is discontinued, and the methodology is being revised. The following is a review of the project. On Thursday, May 8th 2014, I posted the following on http://old.peacecorpsworldwide.org/pc-public-records/page/6/ I have edited the post. This post does include a link describing the unusual sampling method that the study attempted to use. Baylor  University has received a to study the potential of chloroquine to reduce the risk of breast cancer. The study is funded by a grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Projects and administered by the U.S. Department of Defense. (Corrected: July 21, 2015) Chloroquine was taken to guard against malaria. Aralen is the name I knew for . . .

Bill Fitzpatrick (Sierra Leone 1987-89) was a airplane pilot for 25 years working in Africa on conservation projects, emergency law enforcement, search and rescue, medical and fire incidents. His plane disappeared in June of 2013 and plane with his remains has recently been discovered in Cameroon, but the family has been unable to rescue them. The family had asked for help from anyone, including RPCVs who might be able to help them secure the appropriate help to recover his remains. Read John Coyne’s article on this effort. Here is the link: https://peacecorpsworldwide.org/bill-fitzpatrick/ Now, the family has held a funeral, even though they continue to hope to ultimately recover the remains. Here is the link: http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Ridgefield-man-seeks-closure-even-without-6376148.php The US State Department has issued a travel warning to those considering travel to Cameroon. This may be why the family is having difficulty. From the US State Department: “The Department of State warns U.S. citizens . . .

There are times in our nation’s history when the “whole world is watching“. When we are very fortunate, brave Americans step forward, such as in South Carolina last week, and demonstrate how great our country can be. The world is increasingly filled with terror and violence. We see people beheaded, burned, and bombed, targeted because they were of the wrong religion or race. That horror came to America on June 17th in historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Charleston, South Carolina. An assassin, wrapped if only symbolically in the flag of slavery and racial hatred, murdered nine African Americans as they worshiped. The relatives of the martyrs did not respond in turn with hate or anger or call for violent retaliation. Rather at the court proceeding, one by one they displayed the courage of their faith and with a peace exceeding all understanding they forgave the murderer.  Governor Haley . . .

Sunday, the New York Times published an article, “Saving the Cows, Starving the Children”  by SONIA FALEIRO. The author contends that poor children in India are undernourished and one reason is the failure to use cows for beef and feed eggs to these children. To read the article, here is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/28/opinion/sunday/saving-the-cows-starving-the-children.html?_r=0 From that article: “GANDHI famously denied himself food. And by starving himself to protest British rule, he ultimately made India stronger. But India’s leaders today are using food as a weapon, and they are sacrificing not themselves, but others. Their decisions threaten to make India’s children — already among the most undernourished in the world — weaker still. Earlier this month, the chief minister of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, struck down a proposed pilot project to introduce eggs in free government nursery schools in districts populated by economically disadvantaged indigenous groups. . . .

There is much concern, as reported here on the risk/benefits of the use of mefloquine as a anti-malaria  medication for Peace Corps Volunteers.  It is important to raise awareness in the Peace Corps community about this issue. Here is the letter from Dr. Nevin Remington, a leading expert on this medication, to Peace Corps:  text to link to: http://www.remingtonnevin.com/rpcv20150305.pdf RPCVs were urged to read  Dr. Nevin’s letter and review some of the information posted about the drug and then write to Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet urging Peace Corps to accept Dr. Nevin’s recommendations.  See: https://peacecorpsworldwide.org/malaria-mefloquine-and-peace-corps-what-price-protection-part-one/ and https://peacecorpsworldwide.org/malaria-mefloquine-and-peace-corps-what-price-protection-part-two/ In reviewing the following correspondence, it is important to note that Peace Corps is currently being sued by a RPCV over the use of mefloquine. See: John Coyne’s article on the law suit by Sara Thompson: https://peacecorpsworldwide.org/rpcv-sara-thompson/ I would presume that there are legal issues involved that might influence Peace Corps’ public response. I followed my . . .

The Columbia River Peace Corps Association, based in Portland, Oregon is promoting a presentation at Thirsters on Thursday, May 28th, 2015. For those of you lucky enough to live in Portland, here is the information from the Columbia River Peace Corps Association’s newsletter: (Columbia is spelled correctly here, it refers to the River, not the country.) “Maria and James Beebe (RPCVs Philippines) are leading a panel discusion at a Thirsters meeting on May 28 on the relevance of Peace Corps. They need volunteers for the panel discussion and help with the short presentations. Please email beebe@gonzaga.edu ( It may be necessary to copy and paste this email address.) Brief introduction to the history of Peace Corps, including the three goals. Brief comments on the contribution to Peace Corps of Robert Textor, the founder of Thirsters, Brief comments on the current status of Peace Corps and the local Columbia River Peace Corps . . .

In a medically hostile environment, malaria is one of the fiercest enemies. Peace Corps has been fighting it for over fifty years; not only to help the people Volunteers serve, but to protect Volunteers, who are also targets of the disease. From 1961 to 1990, Volunteers in malaria areas, took chloroquine, brand name, Aralen, to protect against malaria. There was a increase in the incidence of  malaria among Volunteers in West Africa beginning in  the mid-80s due to the development of  Chloroquine-resistent malaria. In 1989 thru 1992, Peace Corps Volunteers in West Africa participated in research studies for a  relatively new anti-malaria drug, mefloquine, (for a time, the drug was marketed under the brand name, Lariam). The drug was effective against the chloroquine-resistent form of malaria, but was not without its adverse side effects. RPCV Sara Thompson has filed suit charging that Peace Corps failed to adequately inform her of . . .

This is the headline, today,  from ABC News, reporting  this potential change in policy.  Read the report at: http://abcnews.go.com/International/potential-shift-hostage-policy-officials-recommend-families-free/story?id=30589726 The United States has long had a policy of no negotiation with terrorists and absolutely no payment of ransom to free US citizens held hostage. The policy is based on the rationale that paying ransom would only place a price on other Americans. Unfortunately, the United States has not been successful in rescuing hostage hostages. Families of US citizens, including Warren Weinstein, reported that they were visited by US officials who told them that if they attempted to privately raise funds and pay ransom, they would be prosecuted. “Looking the other way” may be the policy change that would allow families to attempt to ransom relatives held hostage, without fear of prosecution. If it had been in effect, perhaps American hostages would not have been killed. Evidently families did not receive such . . .

The New York Times reported on the death of Warren Weinsten. To read the article, Here is the link:  http://nyti.ms/1DniWd6 From the NYTimes article: “A Fulbright scholar who earned his Ph.D. in international law and economics, Mr. Weinstein was proficient in seven languages. He served as a Peace Corps director in Ivory Coast and Togo. From 2004 until he was captured in 2011, he worked as an adviser for J.E. Austin Associates, a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development.” It was not reported which years Weinstein served as Country Director in Togo and the Ivory Coast. The Washington Post also reported on the  tragic death of Warren Weinstein.Here is the link to read that article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-american-hostage-devoted-life-to-helping-the-worlds-poorest-people/2015/04/23/368fb35c-e9c8-11e4-9a6a-c1ab95a0600b_story.html From the Post article: According to colleagues familiar with a 40-year career that spanned numerous continents and multiple conflicts, Weinstein cast a far longer shadow than they expected from the 5-foot-4 . . .

To read this article published by Devex.com, a website specializing in International Development News, here is the link: https://www.devex.com/news/peace-corps-cites-20-percent-increase-in-sexual-assault-reports-a-sign-of-progress-85889 The article describes Peace Corps efforts to “change the culture” in the agency so that victims of sexual assault receive the “best practices” in support and treatment.  Part of that change is to make Volunteers feel “safe” in coming forward with reports of such assaults.  Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet has been  discussing the work being done by the agency and the problems encountered. In my opinion, the Director is courageous with this  public discussion.

Dona Ermelinda was a midwife in Colombia with whom I worked. If this had been Appalachia, she would be called a granny midwife; in Benin, a “Sage Femme”, a wise woman. In Colombia where we lived, she was a Partera, technically a woman who delivered babies. But she was far more than that; certainly a wise woman, a keen observer, an empirical scientist, the most trusted and important practitioner in our community. She was the gatekeeper. No new practices would be successful without her approval. I struggled to make her my partner.Instead, I became her apprentice. As we walked the hills of Cauca, she would grab my hand, and pound her fingers in it, Anne Sullivan to my ignorance. “Juanita”, she would demand, “Ponga se de atencion!” Pay attention. She explained to me why it was important to massage expectant mothers so that their babies would be in the best position . . .