Capitol Hill Briefing on Healthy Families and the Role of Faith Communities
CCIH held a briefing on Capitol Hill on Healthy Families and Communities and the Role of Faith Communities on July 17, 2018 following the CCIH Annual Conference and Advocacy Day. The briefing was moderated by Dr. Alma Golden, Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID Bureau for Global Health (shown at the podium in above photo). Representatives of four CCIH member organizations shared their work to protect the health of mothers and children.
Pre- and post-natal care coupled with infant nutrition and health in the first 1,000 days of life are crucial for children to thrive. Natsayi Nembaware, Senior Technical Advisor for Nutrition, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International (third from left in photo) discussed how ADRA’s USAID Title II Food Security program focuses on this window of opportunity through integrated maternal and child health and nutrition strategies and interventions in its Asotry program in Madagascar. See PowerPoint
In Zambia, the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) oversees both Catholic and Protestant health facilities and works with their country government to provide health care services. Yoram Siame, MPH, MSc, Advocacy and Public Relations Manager at CHAZ (far left in photo) shared how the organization builds bridges to work with the Zambian government and other groups to provide crucial health services, especially for HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health care, and family planning. Home-based care for HIV is one of CHAZ’s many successful innovations and is an example of how building the capacity of local organizations is key to sustainable programs. See PowerPoint
Debbie Lithander, Senior Program Officer, IMA World Health (seated to the far right in photo) shared IMA’s USAID-funded Ushindi program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which provides support to victims of sexual violence and explores the root issues contributing to SGBV. According to Ms. Lithander, Ushindi means “We overcome” in Swahili and the project engages community-based counselors to provide holistic care for victims of sexual violence. See PowerPoint
Sivan Oun, MD, Program Support Director, World Relief Cambodia (second from left in photo) discussed the organization’s USAID-supported program to improve the health of children in Cambodia, known as Light of Life. The program links the community to the health system by training health workers and using the Care Group model. See PowerPoint
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