Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products (aka period products). It also means an inability to access the necessary education and support for good menstrual health. This leads to negative health, social, and economic consequences. There are many contributing factors including cost and stigma. To tackle the period poverty problem, we need to…
Read more
Are you applying to serve in the Peace Corps? And, do you want to know about the health risks of a country you are interested in? Or, are you a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) who wants to stay as healthy as possible during your time in service? Do you want to keep up on your…
Read more
Too many Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) develop dental problems during service. Some of us didn’t adjust enough for the conditions and expectations of service. Some PCVs let good oral care habits slide. Following the normal dental care routing from the USA may not be enough in your host country. And, don’t expect easy direct access…
Read more
Following your regular dental routine from the USA may not be enough to ward off dental problems during Peace Corps service. In the USA, we have access to Fluoride in the drinking water and in oral care products. This may not be the case during service. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) often serve in countries with…
Read more
There is a culture of food when cooking and eating with other Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). There are also common basic expectations when you are cooking and eating with other PCVs in country. You may each have your preferences. You don’t stand on ceremony. But you still need to work together to have a great…
Read more
Going to the local ethnic restaurant in your US hometown is very different than dining out in your Peace Corps host country. And Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) taking meals with Host Country Nationals (HCNs) is an experience in itself. Make the effort to learn the expected dining rituals in your host country. Learn the about…
Read more
Our breathing patterns are often subconscious. When we are stressed, we anticipate something negative. Then our bodies go into fight or flight mode. Our breathing pattern changes. But this is not healthy to stay in that mode. We need to be conscious of when this happens. We need to learn how to go back to…
Read more
Is there really a culture of food? Yes, food is a culture in itself. There could be generations of stories and traditions in the recipes, preparation methods, eating, and more. And the version of food at a restaurant in the USA is not usually the same recipe that you get in country. In the USA,…
Read more
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) shared some of their medical challenges with RPCV Health Crusade. Medical healthcare, prescription costs, and prescription medication access are consistently at the top of the list of concerns. According to academic researchers, the cost of medical challenges causes 66.5% of all bankruptcies in the USA. While employer-sponsored health insurance is…
Read more
The USA is arguably one of the richest countries in the world. Yet, many in the USA cannot afford adequate medical care or prescriptions. Access to prescription medication can be limited. Many have to choose between the high cost of their prescription medication and other basic necessities like food or rent. For some, the largest…
Read more