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…
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In the USA, indoor plumbing is pretty standard. We can expect hot and cold running water 24/7. But that is a luxury that some Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) do not have. However, it is not all or nothing with running water during your Peace Corps service. Be prepared for a variety of potential water scenarios.…
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First, gather all the unused prescription medication that you no longer need. Second, check the label to determine what you should do with it. Do you have to dispose it? Or, can you donate that medication? If that medication has expired or was not correctly stored, it needs to be properly disposed. If the medication…
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Many of us start the year with good intentions. We want to make positive changes. Some of those changes often include making health a priority. Every year, many of us make all sorts of new year resolutions. But are those resolutions achievable or are they too lofty? Do we forget after a few weeks? Did…
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As Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), we get so focused on our work and on helping others that we sometimes forget about taking care of ourselves. But it is important to practice self-care too. We all need to show ourselves some TLC so that we can be at our best for others. In a nutshell, self-care…
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The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade created a firestorm of controversy. The loss of legalized abortions directly impacts the health and welfare of so many people directly or indirectly. Did the short-sighted decision to deny legal right to abortions puts the entire country in jeopardy? RPCV Health Crusade dissected what losing individual…
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Even though some entities have relaxed their rules about Covid-19, it is still here. People are still infecting others with it. Some people are still getting hospitalized for it. And unfortunately, people are still dying from it. RPCV Health Crusade could not locate the key Covid-19 information cleanly organized on one website. We found information…
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Many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) recall amazing experiences during their time in their Peace Corps host country. Living with a host family provided comfort and support. Interactions with Host Country Nationals (HCNs) were positive and productive. Unfortunately, some PCVs experience traumatic events and situations while in country. And, what happens after that event could…
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The USA Today investigation about PCVs getting assaulted during service was another wake up call for the Peace Corps community. Sadly, these were not the first stories of assaults on Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). But we hope that Peace Corps makes the effort during this reset window to ensure those are the last stories. Unfortunately,…
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Studies have shown that patients receive better care from providers in the same racial group. Would the same be true for RPCVs? Could RPCVs get more applicable diagnoses and treatment paths when treated by RPCVs? Would RPCVs have a better understanding of the types of challenges, conditions, and situations that RPCVs experience? We believe so.…
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