Meeting With Community Mobilizers in Azerbaijan

Azeri mobilizers at the Yardimly hospital discuss community health interventions. Photo: Peggy Arrington

The following day, after a restorative night’s rest, we set off once again for Yardimly. This time I accompanied Dr. Jamilla, another female pediatrician, and Farhad, a young Azeri translator. Our goal for the day was to meet with all eight of the regional mobilizers. Our trusty truck had been carefully cleaned of its thick coating of mud. My shoes, on the other hand, still bore the marks of the previous day’s outing - my efforts at cleaning them notwithstanding.

Once again we climbed the mountains to the Yardimly regional hospital, where our meeting was to take place. I was advised to be prepared to see facilities that, while in deplorable condition, were considerably improved since Mercy Corps’ arrival.

Indeed, I was absolutely shocked at the neglect and lack of basic necessities for a medical facility. In stark contrast to this was the pristine condition of the one room that Mercy Corps had restored. It was clean, bright and well furnished. The U.S. Embassy had donated several new school chairs, complete with folding desks.

The remainder of the hospital was halfway under renovation and the other half sadly in need of funds. Mercy Corps’ endeavor to rehabilitate the hospital has motivated the locals to improve what they could of the long-neglected building. I began to understand the desperation that would drive local citizens to attempt resurrection of such a place – again, mortality is tragically high in these remote areas.

Soon our meeting commenced with the local field coordinator presiding. I was given the opportunity of asking the local mobilizers questions about their work. They expressed great enthusiasm for Mercy Corps and the Child Survival Project. One man stated his initial reluctance at getting involved, but now he sees what a positive impact has been made on the community in terms of improved health and empowerment of women. He seemed proud to state that his wife is now more self-confident and more assertive than a few years ago.

Another man brought up how improved family planning had resulted in a decline in abortions, heretofore the prime method of birth control. I understand that when first informed of what their new job would entail, these men were aghast! We can’t do this! No women will come to the training sessions and, if they do, their husbands will kill us! Sure enough, at first only men and old women showed up. However, as word got out that this was a worthwhile project, suspicions were put aside and gradually the young mothers came.

Now these mobilizers are confidently explaining charts of the female anatomy to groups of women. What a transformation!