Building Trust

Nisreen Afifi

Nisreen Afifi is training a group of women about healthy diets for pregnant and nursing mothers.

Nisreen Afifi, Health Educator

My father always wanted one of his children to pursue a career in health so he was delighted when I chose this field that I love. I’m the eldest of five children but I’m the only one who has chosen health as a career. It comes in handy too! The women in the building where I live are always seeking advice. Their questions are general and I can answer most of them. I also read a lot to stay up to date with health trends.

After graduating from Al-Azhar University’s College of Pharmacy, I worked in private pharmacies and the WHO warehouse where I learned a lot about medications and perceptions. Many women from poor neighborhoods used to visit me at the pharmacy where I work. They felt comfortable asking me for help and I felt my value then because I could provide good advice.

My work now, training mothers who receive food parcels through ANERA’s project, expands my ability to help my community. The USAID-funded project will help 6,000 families, 1,200 of them with pregnant or nursing mothers. The parcels contain basic necessities, like olive oil, macaroni, lemon juice, blankets and shampoo. Distributing the parcels provides us an opportunity to organize sessions to offer valuable health tips, from nutrition to baby care.

I was a bit nervous the first time I conducted one of the awareness sessions but the women were so appreciative. Today, I can easily stand in front of a group of 40 mothers and share experiences and the information I have to offer, especially about healthy diets for pregnant and nursing mothers. It is not always easy. The women often follow traditions handed down through generations and are reluctant to change their habits. So they have to trust me and know that I have their best interests at heart.

What really breaks my heart is the deteriorating state of our health sector because of all the pressures and siege imposed on Gaza. So it is a great feeling for me to know that I and my colleagues are doing something to help ease the misery and perhaps light a candle in the darkness.

I can see my work is benefiting others. The mothers I work with all love their children and want to make a better life for them, so they are very eager to learn and put in practice what I teach them. It’s very rewarding for me to see how much they trust me and how much they gain from what we do.

Date Modified: April 2011