30 Solving Health Problems
To the
Health
Worker
➤ Share your
knowledge with
other women, other
health workers, and
with the people who
make decisions in the
community.
Helping women help themselves
In this chapter Don Pedro and Valeria played an important
role in helping the women in Juanita’s community solve a health
problem. The reason that Don Pedro and Valeria were so
effective was that they did not tell Juanita and her friends what
to do. Rather, Don Pedro and Valeria helped the women learn
how to help themselves.
You, too, can help the women in your community by
following Don Pedro’s and Valeria’s example. You can:
• Share your knowledge. To help themselves, women need
information. Many health problems can be prevented if
people know how. But remember that you do not have to
have all of the answers to help people. Many times there
are no easy answers. It is fine to admit when you do not
know something. The people you work with will be glad
for your honesty.
I’m not sure
about that,
but I can
find out.
• Treat women with respect. Each person should be
treated as someone who is capable of understanding her
health problems and of making good decisions about her
treatment. Never blame a woman for her problem or for
past decisions she has made.
What we have
discussed is
private. I will not
tell anyone else.
• Keep health problems
private. Health problems
should not be discussed
where others can hear.
Never tell anyone else about
a problem someone has
unless the person with the
problem says it is OK.
• Remember that listening is more important than
giving advice. A woman often needs someone who
will listen to her without judgment. By listening, you
let her know you care and that she is important. And
as she gets a chance to talk, she may find that she
already knows some of the answers to her problem.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012