CCIH’s 30×30 Initiative Leverages the Collective Impact of FBOs
When CCIH launched the 30×30 Health Systems Initiative in 2019 to strengthen 30 health systems by 2030, we had a number of goals, including gathering evidence of the impact of faith-based health services. Five years into the initiative, we’re conducting a major mid-term review of the program as we reach the halfway point to 2030. As we anticipate the results of the comprehensive review, we want to share some of the stories behind the numbers as we highlight the work of two commitment makers.
Why CCIH Launched the 30×30 Initiative
Faith-based health services provide a substantial share of health care in low- and middle-income countries and are critically important partners in local, national, and global health. They often operate in complex health systems, from community services to health facilities providing screening, referral, and treatment.
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) work with governments and other private healthcare providers and are often the only services available to underserved people living on the economic margins in rural and urban settings.
Like much of the global health sector, faith-based health services need more resources, stronger staffing, better infrastructure, and modern systems and should be included in planning by governments, multilateral donors, and private funders.
Inspiring Commitment and Measuring Change
The CCIH 30×30 Health Systems Initiative was launched to encourage FBOs to make specific, measurable commitments to improve areas of the health systems in which they operate.
Between 2019 and 2023, 30×30 Commitment Makers reached nearly 6 million people through various health programs that improved the access and utilization of health services. Over 980,000 households were reached by maternal, neonatal, and child health programs, and a total of 4,103 health institutions were supported to improve their capacity in various technical areas. See a brief report of the results of the initiative.
This data is evidence of the impact of FBOs in health but is only part of the story.
Vital Links to Health Services in the Philippines
In the Philippines, frontline community health workers provide basic health services at the village (barangay) level. These health workers, trained by the Health Department and known as Barangay Health Workers, are often volunteers or part-time workers who serve as a vital link between the government’s health services and the local community. Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are crucial, especially in rural and underserved areas, ensuring that health services reach remote communities. Communities that don’t have BHWs are missing important health services. CCIH 30×30 commitment maker International Care Ministries (ICM) committed to step in and fill those gaps.
As part of its 30×30 commitment, ICM is training community health workers (CHW) to carry out community-oriented programs outside of health facilities in 24 provinces in the Philippines through its Transform and Flourish programs. Community Health Champions are selected by families in the community and trained by ICM staff to become CHWs, who are provided with a salary and monthly check-ins and continuing medical education. The CHWs are using a phone app to provide public health education, screen for illness and malnutrition, and track health indicators as well as commodities and referrals given.
“We train community health workers where there is not an active or available barangay health worker,” explains Dr. Melinda Kelly, Chief Health Officer for International Care Ministries. “We are filling gaps, not overlapping with the local health units. “ICM Champions are providing evidence-based community health services that have been proven safe for CHWs to provide, like outpatient management of moderately and severely malnourished children. Our Champions cured over 2,400 children last year. They also provide deworming and Vitamin A to children, as recommended by the Department of Health. Our data shows that ICM provided 70 percent of the deworming for eligible children in our communities, largely because the families we serve often have difficulties reaching the health facilities.”
Dr. Kelly shares the story of Pastor Ezekiel, (shown below) one of the ICM Champions who is also a pastor.
It is a demanding trek to reach pastor Ezekiel’s home. There are vast green fields as far as the eye can see. Pastor Ezekiel heads home after a meeting with ICM staff (shown below). That day, the sky was overcast. The field was wet, and the mud was thick and slippery. Carrying his work equipment, he takes his usual route on the water canal – walking on a cement wall about three feet wide and four feet from the ground. Then he trudges through mud to finally reach home.
Pastors like Ezekiel are the reason ICM can reach many of the remotest, almost forgotten communities in ultra-poverty. ICM pastors and volunteers live in these areas and know their hardships themselves. This makes them the most effective agents of hope to bring ICM’s programs to their people.
Pastor Ezekiel started attending the Thrive Pastors network in 2016, around the time he started pastoring his church. Then, this year, with a desire to do more for his community, he signed up for the Community Health Champion training and now has 50 families who have been assigned to him to monitor and care for.
Quoting from his life verse of Philippians 1:21, Pastor Ezekiel shares, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Only death can stop me from serving God – not hunger nor hardships. We will overcome.”
“It is important that people feel that someone cares for them. Not just through the word of God, but also help for their physical needs,” he shares. Pastor Ezekiel takes his role to heart. “I am poor myself – but that is okay. No matter how difficult my situation is, that is not a reason for me to give up. What’s important is that I am able to help others. This is my commitment to God.” In his community, for the ultra-poor, ICM may be their only chance for a health check-up due to the glaring shortage of health workers in the country, and Pastor Ezekiel’s perseverance has surely impacted the lives of the families he serves.
Vulnerable Children Protected with Vaccines in Nigeria
A new study led by WHO estimates that the Essential Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has saved at least 154 million lives since 1974 – an average of more than 8000 a day for the past 50 years. A child born today is 40 percent more likely to see their fifth birthday than a child born 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, one in five children globally still lack access to vaccination, including many in Nigeria. The Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN) is another incredible 30×30 commitment maker striving to change that. CHAN is committed to improving the vaccination programs and ensuring the provision of immunization services across all CHAN member institutions.
In the Sahel Region of Nigeria, CHAN–in collaboration with partners–has administered 1,829,128 doses of life-saving vaccines to Zero-dose children, with 117,607 Children receiving the DPT-containing vaccine for the first time. CHAN was able to do this in approximately one year through the engagement of experienced personnel, regular supportive supervision, responsive community engagement, scenario planning, and adaptive programming.
Vaccination session at Yauri Bulama Mala settlement, Alau ward, Jere Local Government Area (LGA), Borno state. Photo: CHAN
CHAN used innovative tech-based monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the 1.8 million doses were administered. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology was instrumental in identifying missed communities, tracking vaccination teams, tracking displacement due to conflict and climatic shocks, and ensuring that every dose is delivered to the right arm.
CHAN is proud to share that it’s among the first organizations to deploy a functional Electronic Immunization Registry (EIR), that captures longitudinal case-based data. This means that all the children vaccinated are captured in detail in the EIR, which helps monitor migration and ensure every child gets fully vaccinated.
CHAN has a presence in all 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, with over 70 percent of its member institutions in remote and very hard-to-reach villages. This has increased access to healthcare and reduced infant and maternal mortality. Religious leaders, community chiefs, women’s groups, and community watch groups are key gatekeepers and have continually generated demand for health services, helping to make sure that no child is left behind.
Vaccination session at Molai settlement, Galtimari ward, Jere LGA Borno state. Photo: CHAN
CHAN is partnering with the Government of Nigeria at all levels: civil society organizations, other FBOs, donors, and partner agencies, both locally and internationally. This collaboration has helped CHAN achieve its current results. However, WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage estimated in 2024 that Nigeria still has the highest zero-dose burden in the world, with about 2.1 million zero-dose Children. With additional support, CHAN would be able to multiply its achievement in pursuit of Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind.
“We have partnered with the Nigerian government to navigate very difficult terrains to reach out to the unreached vulnerable and marginalized populations,” said Michael Idah, Secretary General, CHAN. “We are limited by resources, but we have learned to achieve more through strategic teamwork, networking, partnership, and synergy.”
Building the Case for FBOs
We know that faith-based organizations provide much of the care in rural and hard-to-reach areas and in marginalized communities, such as urban slums. The impact of this work is difficult to measure, and the 30×30 initiative is a way to document FBO health activities to help faith actors gain a seat at the table when global strategies and support is discussed.
CCIH continues to gather stories of impact from the 30×30 Health Systems Initiative and we look forward to sharing the results of the midterm review in early 2025.
How You Can Support the 30×30 Initiative
To support the 30×30 Health Systems Initiative, give in increments of 30 here. Thank you!