ICHC blogging: Keep up with the experts!
The time is now to advance community health!
The foundations of community health within the context of primary health care are increasingly recognized as crucial components of national policies and strategies to accelerate progress in health. However, more work must be done to integrate community health approaches into national and local health policy and systems to achieve our global health goals.
With this in mind, 400 of the world’s leading health experts from 45 countries are gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa, this month to share related state-of-the-art lessons; identify solutions to persistent challenges; and discuss how best to engage communities as dynamic resources and agents within national and local systems. The Institutionalizing Community Health Conference will support countries to strengthen partnerships with communities as resources to transform the future, and to ensure that every mother, newborn and child not only survives – but thrives.
We encourage those unable to join the conference to stay virtually connected and to add your voice to the conversation at #HealthForAll. Below, we are also posting blogs from our staff and partners around the world highlighting the necessity of community health in reaching those not currently accessing key health services.
BLOGS
Transforming the Community Health Landscape: From Alma Ata to the Institutionalizing Community Health Conference
Nazo Kureshy (USAID) and Jerome Pfaffmann Zambruni (UNICEF)
Community-Based Maternal Health Care: Meeting Women Where They Are
Sarah Hodin (Maternal Health Task Force)
Communities: The Key to Unlocking Better Health for Every Child
Stefan Peterson (UNICEF)
Strong Government Leadership & Management are Key to Building Sustainable Community Health Systems
Kiersten Abate (AMP Health)
Making Community Systems the Bedrock of Global Health Investments
Kate Thomson (Global Fund)
Why Equity Matters for Health
Tanvi Monga (MCSP/ICF)
Improving Equitable Access to Lifesaving Maternal Health Care in Rural Bangladesh
Joby George (MaMoni Health Systems Strengthening Project)
Uganda Hosts First International Symposium on Community Health Workers
David Musoke (Makerere University School of Public health, Uganda)
Strengthening HIV linkage and retention through improved community & facility collaboration in Botswana
Kesaobaka Dikgole and Cecil Haverkamp (USAID ASSIST Project – Botswana, University Research Co., LLC)
Say no to stigma: The critical role of key populations in the development of community-based services
Marcos Benedetti (Pathfinder International)
Mobile Technology Allows Community Health Workers to Quickly Identify & Refer in Côte d’Ivoire
Oumar Toure, Angeline Dia Lou Balona Anoble & Nathan Rehr (Jhpiego)
Generating local solutions: How CARE’s Community Score Card is helping achieve health access for all
Sara Gullo & Mariela Rodriguez (CARE)
It takes a village and data: Using routine health information to ensure safe, institutionalized births in Mozambique
Adalgisa Viola, Luc Van der Veken, Claire Cole, & Julio Pacca (Pathfinder International)
In Sierra Leone, Ensuring Sustainable Financing for Community Health
Haroun Habib (Financing Alliance for Health)
Connecting the disconnect: Community health and health systems strengthening
Minal Rahimtoola (Pathfinder International)
Community health workers & health volunteers: Leaving old debates behind
Eric Sarriot (Save the Children USA)
Change always happens at the community level – it’s about trust
Dennis Cherian (World Vision)
The Legacy of the Alma-Ata Declaration: Integrating Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services Into Primary Care
Sarah Hodin (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Making healthcare affordable: Women’s savings and loans clubs to the rescue
Tolase Olatinwo (Jhpiego)
Where There Are No Supervisors: Community Health Worker Peer Support Groups
Camille Collins Lovell (Pathfinder International) & Hermenegilde Nduwayo (Integrated Health Project in Burundi)
District Partnerships Enhance Community Participation for RMNCH in Rwanda
Telesphore Kabore (Save the Children USA)
It Takes a Village: Improving Nutrition through Community Health Workers
Sascha Lamstein (JSI)
Harnessing the Power of Community Networks
Ram Shrestha (University Research Co., LLC)
Getting the message home: Advocacy for health accountability in Uganda
Deogratias Agaba (PATH)
Using Quality Improvement Approaches for Better Community Health
Kim Ethier Stover (University Research Co., LLC)
Reaching the “last mile” in South Sudan with community health workers
Alfonso Rosales (World Vision)
ICHC 2017: Five Key Takeaways for Maternal Health
Maternal Health Task Force
