2. United States Peace Corps Health Volunteers www.peacecorps.gov 1525 Wilson Blvd. Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22209 703.235.9191 Fax 703.235.9189 [email_address]

3. United States Peace Corps was established by president John F. Kennedy in March 1, 1961 Total number of Volunteers and trainees to date: 187,000 Total number of countries served: 139 Volunteers Current number of Volunteers and Trainees: 7,749 Education: 93% have at least an undergraduate degree, 13% have graduate studies or degrees Volunteers by Work Area : Education: 35% Health & HIV/AIDS: 21% Business: 16% Environment: 14% Youth: 6% Agriculture: 5% Other: 4% John F. Kennedy announces plans for the Peace Corps on the steps of the University of Michigan Union in 1960

4. Mission Statement President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship . The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals: 1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. 2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. 3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

5. Fiscal year 2006 budget: $318.8 million Josephine K. Olsen (Director) Lynn Foden (Regional Director, Africa) David Burgess (Regional Director, Europe) Roger Conrad (Regional Director, IAP)

6. Peace Corps Health Sectors: Health Extension Public Health Education Water & Sanitation Extension

7. Prevention, Capacity Building & Education Basic health care improvement projects are conducted at a grassroots level, in areas where needs are considered to be most pressing. These three goals should contribute to a community's ability to take responsibility for their own health care.

8. HIV/AIDS In addition to basic health care projects, Peace Corps health volunteers address HIV/AIDS with education campaigns, prevention training with peer educators, and collaborations with community leaders to develop local solutions. VOLUNTEERS TO NOT PROVIDE DIRECT MEDICAL CARE

9. Volunteer Qualifications Most Peace Corps volunteers serving in health programs have a bachelor's degree and experience in health-related activities. Some volunteers will have masters degrees in public health: some are registered nurses, physician's assistants, counsellors, or teachers.

10. Health Extension Activities include: • Identifying local leaders to teach families about maternal and child health and basic nutrition or sanitation • Setting up training on nutrition, sanitation or oral re-hydration therapy • Organizing groups to raise money for needed healthcare materials • Training of people as peer educators on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases

11. Public Health Education Activities include: • Service in a healthcare system as regional health educators or as community health or nutrition promoters • Collaborating with host country counterparts on education and awareness • Teaching public health in primary and secondary schools • Conducting community surveys

12. Public Health Education Activities (continued): • Assisting clinics or government planning offices in identifying health education needs • Devising educational programs to address local health conditions • Assisting in marketing messages aimed at improving local health practices • Performing epidemiological studies

13. Water & Sanitation Extension Activities include: • Organizing and mobilizing communities to provide hygiene education • Tapping springs, constructing wells, and building latrines • Improving potable water storage facilities • Doing community outreach to heighten awareness of water and sanitation issues, health issues, and environmental issues

14. Is this an effective program? General Effectiveness - In reviewing and rating nearly 800 federal programs, the Office of Management and Budget gave Peace Corps its highest rating. Visit the website at www.expectmore.gov Cost Effectiveness -President Bush is now requesting nearly $94 Billion in additional defence spending for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In other words, the request for additional, emergency spending for Iraq and Afghanistan is nearly 280 times larger than the entire Peace Corps budget.

15. Concrete Examples of Peace Corps Health volunteer projects Midwife trainings Health-Huts Well Aprons HIV/AIDS theatre groups