Stella Krumrey,
Transcript Section 7

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KAREN: So people have been -- do you feel people have been supportive of the community health aide --

STELLA: Yes.

KAREN: -- program?

STELLA: Uh-hum. Yes. And they are really -- I mean, I don't think they could live without a health aide anymore.

I mean, you know, growing up, cuts and stuff that we had, you know, we kind of took care of, our parents took care of, or, you know, just -- now it's the health aide, you know, they come for any little thing, and they come to the health aide.

KAREN: So it's a big responsibility?

STELLA: It's a responsibility. And people really are, what you call, to the health aides are. Like I say, you can't live -- live without them or -- it's -- it's changed.

KAREN: Uh-hum.

STELLA: Yeah, people are -- used to, you know, kind of take care of themselves for little things, will come to the clinic, have the health aide see them.

KAREN: Uh-hum. Well, it sounds like in the more traditional times that the healer or the midwife had a lot of status, you know, because --

STELLA: Uh-hum.

KAREN: And I was thinking that they -- the traditional healers and midwives were people who were highly respected in their --

STELLA: Yes.

KAREN: -- in their communities.

STELLA: In the communities. Yes, they were.

KAREN: And has the community health aide transitioned into a similar role of respect?

STELLA: Uh-hum. Yes. Our -- they have been. Or are still are respected.

KAREN: I can imagine that it's a difficult job.

STELLA: It could -- yeah, it is at times. It is when we have -- you know, especially when we have tragedies or something that happens that involves the whole village or, you know, because you know everybody and, you know, in your home.

KAREN: Uh-hum.

STELLA: Yeah.

KAREN: So how do you deal with that?

STELLA: Oh, I myself, I prayed a lot. You know. And I have people that -- that are supportive.

KAREN: Uh-hum.

STELLA: People that come.

KAREN: That's good.

STELLA: Uh-hum