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2020_WHD_Casestudy_Gabriela_Portillo.
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Resource ID
73841
Access
Open
Contributed by
Chandra Prasad
Uploading member
CI Secretariat
Consent form provided?
Yes
Region
South America
Style
Documentary, Portrait
Focal point
Looking at camera
Subject Keywords
Woman
Moods and Emotions
Informal
Image size
5204x3469
Source
Digital Camera
Country
Honduras
Theme
Humanitarian response, Gender equality, Health
Camera make / model
X-T2
Keywords
Advocacy, Disease
Named person(s)
Gabriela Portillo.
Credit
CARE
Copyright
CARE
Date Image Taken
14 July 20
Caption
Gabriela María Portillo Rodríguez (30)
Currently working in the humanitarian response to COVID-19 in Honduras with CARE in the Prolempa Project.
Prolempa stands for “Economic rural development promotion of women and youth in the Lempa región in Honduras.” It has as a goal the economic wellbeing of small producers in the Corredor Seco – Dry Corridor- an area that crosses the West, South and Central Honduras where the lack of rain causes severe droughts, water shortages and food insecurity.
Prolempa focuses specifically on women, young women and men and people living in poverty in municipalities in the Dry Corridor. As many projects, Prolempa took a different approach as COVID-19 hit Honduras, adapting its delivery relief and goals to the needs the pandemic has created.
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Gabriela is a surgeon and is a postgraduate degree candidate on health management. She worked in the Intibucá region.
My name is Gabriela Portillo, I am 30 years old and I am happy to be a humanitarian worker. There has been a great effort to [COVID-19] the response. Most of us involved in the project have not seen our families yet the whole team remains COVID-19 negative and that is a huge relief for us. We are so aware of the responsibility we bear each time we visit a community.
We use masks N19 masks to protect those that come into contact with us. Full protective PPE is something that we leave for hospital use, for those working in COVID-19 wards, even more exposed than us, those battling with the virus in the hospitals. [Here in Honduras] PPE is scarce and they need it to protect their lives. We cannot arrive in a community in full PPE because that would create panic in the communities we visit.
We go to the communities to deliver food, cash transfer and provide capacity building. We make sure we follow bio security protocols. We check temperature and explain the use of thermometers and how infrared thermometers are harmless. We ask for previous symptoms and make sure participants wash their hands and social distance. We provide masks. One of the lessons learn in one of the communities in the west part of Honduras is that many people do not have access to a disposable masks and cannot afford to buy a mask. Many didn’t see the use of it and decided to not make getting a mask a priority. We came up with alternatives and found reusable mask in their traditional Lenca clothing. They used those with pride.
That way, we supported small business of women sewing these masks and strengthen preventive measures in the communities. All the masks have a filter and we advise to wear these masks and combine their use with social distancing and washing hands.
In this emergency response we are doing a bit of everything: From food baskets to tackle food insecurity, to providing toiletries for health and in the case of women, we have always prioritized access to key products such as sanitary pads that are scarce and expensive in these areas. Very few times have I’ve seen women’s needs prioritized and in this project, we have made them a priority.
For me, it has been a great experience. I am happy that CARE supports women leaders with capacity building, so they help in preventing COVID spread in their community, as well as working towards eradicating Gender Based Violence. I have met feminist organizations such as Las Hormigas and it was essential for our work, to see how these women encouraged others to come forward and stop the cycle of violence. It is such a reward to see these women so confident in themselves. Throughout all this process, from families receiving food or cash transfers women were the organizers, the leaders because they know the context. It is a key step to lead in the community in times like these.
The hardest bit about being a humanitarian worker is being away from my family. My dad is elderly with a chronic illness and I can see them just once a month when we do a breakfast over video conference. Being far and not having contact with them is hard but it is part of the process. I know they love me and I love them but seeing the need in these communities…well, this is why I decided to work alongside the community.
I am going to be away from home for a while and I worry when a relative gets sick and I cannot be there but we always get support. Solidarity from other people also helps us, it reaches everyone.
My gratitude and admiration as a young doctor to organizations like CARE and ASONOG (Association of Non-Governmental Organizations) that support our capacities, despite the how hard it is to find spaces to do this kind of work. They have trusted me, have respected me and have push this project forward.
I am proud of the approach we have taken to create a visible impact, what matters here are people’s lives. I have gotten a lot of fulfilment working alongside such a committed team. We have gotten such a reward from working on this project, I feel I have learned and gained so much from working on this project and I feel thankful.
Marker lat / long: 14.8, -87.4 (WGS84)
Public: CAREIMGES_TOP_CONTENT
Public: FLHW Images