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| 22 Apr 2010 Nick Henwood and Zannah Jeffreys |
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1. What is the X factor?
2. Transformation in Bangladesh
3. New Cluster of Community Health Projects in Kenya
4. Website Update |
1. What is the X factor?
Christian churches form a world-wide network. Some church bodies are large enough to run a hospital, while other individual congregations are small enough to reach into an isolated hamlet or deprived slum.
At the most intimate level, churches and other faiths can be part of community development and the transformation of lives, from the inside out. They do not have to rely on external cash. The work of local congregations is often hidden, and the impact of such work is hard to measure.
The unique contribution the church makes in relieving poverty is faith. Faith may be undervalued by Western secular society, but it is central in much of the resource-poor world. It motivates people to serve one another and to foster hope. Faith can raise people’s sense of purpose.
Poverty has many dimensions – physical, social and spiritual. Conflict and disasters can also affect these domains. Church-based trauma counsellors can approach spiritual issues and help bring hope.
The Christian faith emphasises relationships. Christians express their faith through friendship, compassionate care and pastoral support – for example: through prayer, counselling or just by giving someone a hug. The Bible teaches us to build relationships with those who are marginalised from mainstream society. Christianity is distinctive in its message that God desires a personal relationship with everyone – even those whom society deems unlovely.
People of faith approach development with a ‘whole person’ mentality. They aim to meet both physical and spiritual needs. In country after country, it is the combination of these ‘tangible and intangible assets’ – in the words of a WHO study – which makes faith the ‘X factor’, and such a force to be reckoned with*.
* ARHAP report for the WHO (2006) - Appreciating Assets: the contribution of religion to universal access in Africa
This article is derived from one section of Tearfund’s publication entitled “IN THE THICK OF IT: why the church is an essential partner for sustainable development in the world’s poorest communities”.
2. Transformation in Bangladesh
We are always thrilled to hear stories of transformation and growth. Here is an extract from a recent article in the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) ‘Developments’ magazine, highlighting how LAMB Hospital has helped to reduce the number of mothers dying in childbirth. As a result of the hospital being well rooted and established in the community, it has gained the trust and respect of local people. Village health workers have subsequently been empowered to prevent unnecessary disease and deaths through successful community health programmes.
Molly Thomas-Meyer reflects on her visit to the hospital: “25 years after LAMB introduced a new system in the north-west, its maternal mortality rate is nearly 60% less than the national average. How? LAMB trains birth care attendants in the community and has set up an early warning system to prevent problems and recognise complications.
“A system of clinics in the surrounding communities replicates a western-style ‘family doctor’ system. Maternal and neonatal death is often the result of poor nutrition, anaemia and infection, but these clinics provide preventative care such as vaccines and folic acid, checkups for expectant mothers, and education on basic healthcare. Crucially, they also have a referral system to the hospital for what cannot be solved in the clinic, reducing the number of complications from prolonged labour or gestational difficulties.
“After almost 30 years, LAMB is now embedded in the community it serves, with 25 clinics in the region, each attuned to local needs. Every clinic is staffed by local people who receive training at the main LAMB hospital – as community volunteers, health workers or midwives. Many of the clinics also serve as local meeting points. Often they have microcredit groups attached, because economic development will improve social and personal wellbeing…
“… A recent Lancet article asked if the slow progress of some of the health Millennium Development Goals was due to the failure to encourage community care and participation in the healthcare system. LAMB seems to have bridged that gap by providing and encouraging an affordable and trustworthy system that delivers, time and time again. And, on top of that, it has also captured the imagination of the community to see what they can do for themselves.”
To read the full article, go to DfID's Developments Magazine
The CHGN team and those working at LAMB Hospital are hoping to bring together community health people and programmes based in Bangladesh towards the end of this year for a CHGN/LAMB Cluster gathering. If you, or friends you know, would like more information, please email us at team@chgn.org.
3. New Cluster of Community Health Projects in Kenya
We are pleased to announce that a new cluster of projects has been launched in Rift / Nyanza / Western Provinces in Kenya.
Over 19-20th Feb 2010, 18 members of CHGN met together in Kericho, Kenya for an interactive and inspiring programme. At the end of the gathering, all participants signed an agreement to move forward, share and learn together as a cluster of projects, in order to improve the support offered to the communities they serve. Participants included 12 local health and community players, 3 representatives of Kenya-wide networks, and 2 facilitators from the UK.
During our time together, we were able to learn about one another’s programmes and recognise and discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of working in partnership with others.
We found common challenges, such as:
1) Approaches to starting work in new locations – how to identify and build links with existing community based organisations, including churches; and
2) How to foster and maintain the commitment of volunteer community workers.
We explored a biblical basis for community health, wholeness and transformation. We also discussed some of the practicalities of forming a cluster in Kenya… Should there be one, two or more cluster groups? How should we attract more members? Should we have a single or multi-faith membership? How should a cluster be governed?
These conversations and no doubt many others will be continued as the cluster grows. Three Kenyans have committed to taking this new cluster forward, so please pray for wisdom and guidance as the do so.
And what about you? Do you think that better networking between community health projects in your location would be beneficial? If you feel inspired and challenged to form a new CHGN cluster, then start by building contacts with like-minded community health workers in your area and contact us (team@chgn.org), so that we can put you in touch with other members who could share their learning and experiences with you.
4. Website Update
The CHGN Team are working on updating the website to ensure that it is more user-friendly, relevant and interactive. We want to keep it as clear and simple as possible, whilst covering the most important issues in community based health care. It will be a valuable resource that points our members to links, training materials and information most relevant to their work. We are taking on board the suggestions you gave us in the survey last year!
The site will also enable members to better connect with each other, both within their geographical regions and through special interest discussion groups.
We would like to invite you to help us upload relevant content, by sending stories, ideas, articles or links that you would to share with other members on the site to team@chgn.org. We will hope to launch the new site in the next couple of months!
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Email Contact
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Networking for beginners… “Learning from each other” (July 2010 newsletter)
Nick Henwood facilitated a workshop at the ‘Christian Connections for International Health’ conference, in June 2010. Here is his summary…
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What is the X factor? (April 2010 newsletter)
1. What is the X factor?
2. Transformation in Bangladesh
3. New Cluster of Community Health Projects in Kenya
4. Website Update
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Christmas news, December 09
1) Ted attends Louisville Conference. 2) Nick attends CIFA / WHO conference. 3) Scam alert. 4) Santa – a public health hazard?!
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Mapping health programmes... and other issues... (October 2009 Newsletter)
1. CHGN Update
2. WHO and CIFA Mapping exercise
3. Scam alert
4. Valuable Resource
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CHGN update - and our relationship with WHO (September 2009 Newsletter - part 1)
News about the north India cluster, and about the way that CHGN members' views can contribute to WHO thinking.
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Tribute to David Morley (September 2009 Newsletter - part 2)
And news about a new edition of 'Setting up Community Health Programmes'
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A survey of CHGN members and contacts to help us re-develop our web site (February 2009 Newsletter)
Please help us by completing this survey - so Community Health Global Network can serve your needs better.
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Regional clusters in Community Health Global Network (December 2008)
This newsletter looks at a possible way that local community-based health programmes can support one another. And we hear from our first cluster in North India.
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Report from the September WHO Consultation (December 2008 newsletter)
In this newsletter we hear a report from the consultation by Dr Ted Lankester, and Dr Raj Arole gives his reflections on Primary Health Care (PHC)
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TRAINING FAITH LEADERS
Could raising awareness amongst church leaders of the concepts of whole person care (and whole community care) and providing some practical skill training empower them to take responsibility for their own healthcare and mobilise their communities?
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Proposed WHO Primary Health Care consultation with FBOs co-sponsored by CHGN
This is a call for delegates - people with experience, and a passion for Primary Health Care. Could you suggest someone?
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Participatory Action Research (PAR), a community-based approach used by AFFIRM (April 08 newsletter)
PAR starts with community people exploring their own situations and leads on to actions that people own themselves. As communities journey through PAR they are able to identify and celebrate their own successes.
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Roles of Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) in promoting community health care.
In December 2007 we asked CHGN members and contacts to give examples and suggestions of how their FBO, or FBOs in general, can help to bring health care to the world's neediest. In this newsletter we summarise the 30 responses.
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For your immediate attention
Community Health Global Network (CHGN) has been given a golden opportunity to help influence the World Health Organisation's (WHO) future approach to primary health care and the role of Faith Based Organisations (FBOs).
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Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing - November 2007 CHGN Newsletter
When Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing don’t give up and seek to control everything yourself. This may seem an easy option, but it is not the path to long term sustainability or to developing programmes that are managed or owned by the community.
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Oral Health - a key is fluoride - September 2007 CHGN Newsletter
Dental caries has a significant and often underestimated impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The effects of untreated dental caries are not only pain and suffering, but range from having a negative impact on child growth and
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Simple Treatment of Epilepsy - August 2007 CHGN Newsletter
Of the 35 million people with epilepsy who live in developing countries, around 85% receive no treatment at all. As a result, they continue to have fits and suffer from stigma and discrimination. Most of these people could have their fits completely contro
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DEWORMING, IRON, and ANAEMIA
In low and middle income countries, about 1.2 billion people are infected with roundworm, and more than 700 million are infected with hookworm or whipworm. Infection with intestinal worms is linked with poverty because it is caused by unsafe disposal of faeces.
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Preparing for health-related disasters - May 2007 Newsletter
As communities living together, and as health workers, how can we be prepared for the unexpected, for an epidemic outbreak, or for a disaster?
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News about the Network - March 2007 Newsletter
This month we are sharing some news about the Network itself. This will help to keep you in touch and to encourage you to become more involved.
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THE LARGEST OF TREES WERE ONCE SEEDS
Once sown, in good soil, a seed may grow to become a large tree with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.
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A NEW APPROACH TO HIV TREATMENT IN KENYA*
I have recently been very excited reading about a programme being carried out by a CHGN member in Kenya. Its run by Mildmay International and concentrates on ways of making the use of Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) as effective as possible at community level.
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SWOT analysis
Could you use the Network to help deal with the weaknesses and threats your project faces?
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UPDATE ON COMMUNITY HEALTH GLOBAL NETWORK (CHGN)
We are delighted that nearly 100 individuals and organisations have joined CHGN. Please take another look at our website: you will see many improvements and updates. www.communityhealthglobal.net - or easier to key in - www.chgn.org
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Community Transformation
Greetings!
I have just returned from India where I was encouraged by stories of Community Transformation at Jamkhed and Asha.
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