The Game Plan in Grenada
Sasha Tretyakova
MPH Candidate, General Epidemiology
Hey there! I am so excited to blog about my upcoming trip to Grenada, where my team and I will be working on an infectious disease protocol with the Ministry of Social Development and Housing. I am a second year MPH student on the Epidemiology track (‘23). Not only will we have the amazing opportunity to learn about public health fieldwork in another country, but I am also excited to learn from people of different cultures.
To prepare for our trip, we have been brainstorming some important questions related to the current infectious disease protocol for facilities in Grenada. We are mainly focusing in on understanding the challenges that exist in creating and maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients and residents.
One of the first things we are planning to do when we arrive is to learn more about the current infectious disease protocol for facilities in Grenada. We want to know how various protocols are currently structured and what procedures are in place to ensure patient and resident safety. Additionally, we are hoping to hear about the methods of communication for the current infectious disease protocols in Grenada's facilities. We want to see if there are any products or flyers used to inform staff and residents about the various protocols. We are curious to know where they are posted and where staff and residents primarily hear about resources such as the IP protocol. This will then allow us to come up with a new flyer or strategy for spreading this information.
We will also be exploring the experiences of patients dealing with dementia in Grenada's facilities. We are eager to learn about the challenges that they face and how care is provided to them. We hope to gain insight into the dementia care in Grenada's facilities, both the positives and areas in need of improvement. We will run a needs assessment and then adjust the protocol as we see what might be fitting.
If we discover any areas needing improvement throughout focus groups, we want to pinpoint how exactly that change could be implemented. We will ask those with that we speak with, what they want to see from the potential change, and how they think it could be achieved. Combined with the information from the focus group, our knowledge of public health will come in handy and create small, yet positive change.
Overall, I am thrilled to embark on this journey of working on an infectious disease protocol with the Ministry of Social Development and Housing in Grenada. I look forward to learning about public health fieldwork in another country and working with people from a new place and culture. I'm excited to see what I can learn from the people of Grenada and how I can contribute to their ongoing efforts to maintain a clean and safe environment for patients and residents.
I must admit, that while I am excited about doing fieldwork in Grenada, I am also feeling a bit nervous. Working somewhere new can be both exciting and intimidating, especially when it's in a completely different culture and country. I am preparing to experience some culture shock when I arrive, but I'm also hopeful that it will be a positive learning experience.
The thought of being in an unfamiliar environment can be daunting, but I'm eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with working in a new country. I hope to expand my knowledge and understanding of Grenadian culture and gain a new perspective on global health issues. I am also excited to work with people from different backgrounds and to learn from their unique experiences and perspectives.
I think it's important to acknowledge that culture shock is a real thing, and it can be tough to adjust to a new environment. But I'm hopeful that by being open-minded, respectful, and willing to learn, I'll be able to navigate any challenges that come our way. And ultimately, I hope that my experience in Grenada will not only benefit my personal growth but also make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the people I'll be working with.