The Grenada Experience From My Living Room
Alexandra Tretyakova
2nd Year, MPH Epidemiology Candidate
Hey there! I'm excited to tell you about my PHAST experience in Grenada, slightly different than I had initially planned. I was supposed to travel to Grenada to work alongside other PHAST volunteers to conduct a health assessment and develop recommendations for improving the country's health system. However, due to unforeseen circumstances (coffee stains.), I couldn’t make the trip.
While everyone else could go to Grenada and work on the project in person, I had to participate remotely. At first, I was disappointed that I couldn't be there in person, but I quickly realized that working remotely presented a unique opportunity to develop adaptability and resilience. As a remote volunteer, I researched and analyzed Grenada's health system, communicated with local stakeholders, and contributed to developing the final report.
It was a learning experience, and I had to be more independent in my work since I couldn't rely on face-to-face interactions or on-the-ground experiences to inform my analysis. One of the biggest challenges I faced was feeling like I was missing out on the team's shared experience of being in Grenada and working together. However, I could still make valuable contributions to the project by staying connected with the team and leveraging technology to communicate effectively.
One thing that struck me during this experience was the importance of global health work. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical role that robust public health systems play in protecting populations and preventing the spread of disease. It was inspiring to be a part of a project that aimed to positively impact public health in Grenada, even if I couldn't be there in person.
In conclusion, even though my PHAST experience in Grenada was remote, it was still a meaningful and rewarding opportunity. It taught me a lot about adaptability and resilience and gave me a greater appreciation for the importance of global health work. While I would have loved to be there in person with the rest of the team, I'm grateful for the chance to have contributed to this critical work, and I hope to continue supporting global health efforts in any way I can.