Champion for Change: Augustin Jesula

This month we would like to highlight the work of Augustin Jesula who works at our partner facility, Fort Saint Michel (FSM) Health Center. Jesula is the nursing supervisor for ten health agents in the community called Agent Santé Communautaire Polyvalent (ASCP), which translates to Multipurpose Community Health Workers. She has an immense amount of experience in the healthcare field, as a licensed and trained nurse who specializes in family planning methods and disease management for malaria, malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. She was hired for this job after four years of volunteering at FSM Health Center. Recently, she has been working on responding to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in various communities.

Her main responsibilities are to prepare lists of zero to twelve months old children who are scheduled to receive vaccinations before they turn one years old. Jesula also verifies data for the ASCP and enters it into the computer so it can be used for monthly reporting. She meets with staff members weekly to discuss day-to-day operations and also has monthly meetings to follow up on the hospital’s program for home births.

Konbit Sante provides the home births program funding for transportation and essential supplies and supplementary fees for those who accompany the pregnant women from the community to the healthcare center for deliveries. Jesula stated, “Konbit Sante has helped me a lot in my work. They support me economically and technically, especially the community health program manager, Josaime Clotilde St Jean.”

Jesula has experienced a lot throughout her years as a healthcare provider. When asked about a moment or experience that is particularly meaningful to her, she stated, “I remember when I received a patient in the emergency room, as a volunteer, with multiple wounds on his face. He was very scared about receiving treatment. I was able to convince him to let us help and one year later, he returned to the hospital to personally thank me for treating him.”

Jesula loves her job and her country. She stated, “What I appreciate the most about my job is the opportunity to continue learning and improving my approach and relationship with the patients.”