Women

Arriving in the Marshall Islands, we were a bit surprised to discover the complete absence of health services for women on the outer islands. 

Few of them had ever had any sort of gynecological exam, as the tradition of modesty has prevented them from seeking medical attention from the island health assistant, who is usually a man.

Immediately, we began providing the women with discreet and personalized consultations and examinations in our medical clinics.  We also realized what a huge task lay before us in educating the women about health. 

Nutrition, exercise, prenatal and well-baby care: these were just a few of the topics on which there was insufficient information and inadequate training.  We would basically have to begin from scratch to supply what was lacking.  Women's meetings proved to be the ticket. 

I can still remember the evening when we rode the dinghy to shore for a women's meeting and were caught in a downpour.  We arrived at a large, thatch-roofed, open-air shelter to find 70 women seated on the palm-frond floor in the dark, waiting for us.  No matter that we looked like drowned rats, our clothes and hair clinging to our soaked bodies.  We fired up a generator for some light and then, like nothing unusual had happened, went on with our lecture.

We discussed women's health issues, and about family planning.  Gently, we pointed out the fallacy of the tradition which says that the best food should go to the men first, then the women, and the children last of all.  We explained the importance of good nutrition for children and women of childbearing age and how, as the cook, the woman hold the health of the entire family in her hands.  We candidly answered questions, many of which were elementary, reflecting little knowledge about matters of health or their own body processes.

But the most memorable and touching part of the evening took place afterward, when several of the women timidly approached us to express their gratitude for coming to help them.  Over and over they thanked us, both in Marshallese and broken English, for providing them with the keys to good health.

Stacy Leck

Communications Manager

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