Central North Dakota to Africa
Posted by Robert T. Chambers
on Jun 14, 2016
Alicia Helion grew up in Binford, N.D. (2010 census -183) dreaming of Africa. After completing a M.Sc. (Brown) and a PhD (U. Wisconsin) in Psychology and becoming a tenured Professor Dr. Helion headed for Africa working for one year with a Health Education Center for people with HIV and disabilities in Kenya. That gave her the opportunity to look around and make the contacts needed to become a student again; this time at Gondar University in Ethiopia where she is on the M.Sc. Public Health program. This she accomplished through a District 5580 Global Grant Scholarship sponsored by the Williston Rotary Club. During their regular noon hour meeting at Prante’s on June 14th the members of The Rotary Club of Wahpeton heard some of her story.
Alicia Helion
There were sixty-five students who started the program at Gondar many experienced public health field officers from Ethiopia. Other than that they work with a modular program the curriculum is very similar to what one might expect in the United States but focused on Ethiopia. Being a PhD and a tenured Professor Dr. Helion was surprised at the academic rigor at Gondar and how hard she had to study. Her focus is in neo-natal and maternal mortality. A problem are the distances that woman need to travel from their village to the hospital in Gondar. If something has gone wrong with the pregnancy or delivery there is usually insufficient time to get to the hospital. She also commented on the practice of the women of giving the available food to their children and/or husband and having insufficient nutrition for them particularly when they are pregnant.
Gondar is in the northern mountains of Ethiopia at four thousand plus feet elevation with a population of approximately three hundred and fifty thousand. Despite its size she finds a certain “village charm” to the city though it can be cold at night. The families living on her route from her apartment to the hospital are all very friendly, inviting her in for tea. She has learned to eat and even cook the local cuisine which is very spicy for a girl of Norwegian ancestry from North Dakota where she claims butter is regarded as a spice.
Her thesis project has been bolstered by a project being done by England’s “HALE” (Health Action Leicester Ethiopia) group which is about prenatal care for two thousand women in the rural area called Demibra which she is collaborating on. She also is working with a Mother’s Support Group of HIV infected mothers who are aiding themselves producing jewelry and baskets.
As noted she is on a District 5580 Global Grant Scholarship with the Rotary Club of Gondar Fasiledes as the host club in District 9212 (Ethiopia and Kenya).