Some time back, Arukah’s Co-founder Dr. TED LANKESTER issued a call for more collaboration to those of us involved in making our communities happier and healthier. His message is just as relevant today...
The world seems to have become less good at collaborating. More trade tariffs, more disagreements between politicians and more people thinking that because they are right, others must be wrong.
If you work in government, a Civil Society Organisation, a faith based group, an NGO or if you are an independent practitioner, a policymaker, a program manager, or even a donor, then this article is aimed at you.
Why is collaboration important in these different areas?
1. Government health services
If you do not work for the government, it is important to understand that the government has primary responsibility for health systems, health priorities, public health, and preventative and curative care. In many resource poor areas, these services may be under severe strain, and health systems may be sometimes absent altogether.
In areas like this, often civil society organisations can work alongside the government and fill in the gaps. But it's important that all these activities are done in association with the government, especially with members of the district health team. It's often not easy, and sometimes not even possible, but we should always be seeking how best we can cooperate with the government and not in competition. And we should aspire to speak well of their members.
Conversely, if you work in government, it is important to reach out to others who are working for the health and well being of communities, especially civil society organisations and community leaders.
2. Civil society organisations (CSOs.)
This also includes NGOs, INGOs, faith based organisations (FBO) and others. CSOs are basically groups of citizens who at their best are committed to helping countries, regions and communities to become safer, healthier and happier.
Recently, I met the chief medical officer of a vulnerable district in West Africa, an area where many NGOs have been working. I asked him if I could meet him for an hour to listen to what he was doing, offer some encouragement, and see how Arukah Network might work with him. He was delighted. “You are the first person to have taken the trouble to come and see me and ask for my advice. Dozens of NGOs work in my district, and most of them have never bothered to meet me.”
I spent many years working with a CSO and believe that they do provide vital services. However, CSOs are sometimes well known for less good reasons including; failing to acknowledge that the community should own its own future, competing unnecessarily, failing to find out what other CSOs are doing in the same area, and often failing to meet, build trust, and work more collaboratively with others. Understandably, each organisation has its own plans, goals, and supporters. However, cooperation at ground level and reducing duplication is so essential.
Many CSOs, especially from the West, from the global North, are led by people with little or no religious faith. But they find themselves working in communities where nearly everyone they work with has a religious faith. This can lead to a disconnect of what makes us human. It’s essential that organisations working in diverse communities understand and respect their beliefs and value systems.
There is also a great need to recognize and build relationships with any faith based organisations that are present and, above all, with those who lead religious institutions and not ignore them.
Equally, faith based organisations need to reach out to secular CSOs and learn how to adopt effective healthcare approaches and how to put aside unhelpful ideas and practices.
Churches, mosques and temples need to follow effective and evidence based approaches to health.
All these issues can be solved through what I call the ‘engine of collaboration.’ In practice, you can use a social intervention tool that is valuable to our network, known as SALT.
3..Hospitals
Many consider hospitals to be the hub of the health system. Respecting and using their expertise is essential and life saving, but we all need to fully grasp that the hub of the health system is the community. In my experience, hospitals fail to understand the needs of the community. For example, many hospital workers have never visited the communities they serve, especially the remotest and neediest. There is often a dismissal by the hospital of the role that CSOs and community health workers can provide in carrying out key health services at the local level.
Conversely, those in communities need to build links, relationships, and understanding of their local hospital and how it can best serve them. A good starting point is for community health programs and hospitals to visit each other, build trust, set up working relationships and arrange visits with the community.
4..Independent contractors
In many countries, they remain the main group of people to whom people will go if they are unwell. They range from expert private physicians, traditional practitioners, birth attendants and those often inappropriately referred to, usually by outsiders, as witch doctors. We shouldn’t neglect them but should instead meet them, listen to them and help them to demonstrate better ways of working through a process of engagement and respect. Many community health programs have welcomed, used, and been enriched by incorporating and training this wide range of local healers.
Another important group are those who have specific skills and knowledge in key areas which have a direct impact on the health of communities such as new ways of farming, using different crops, improving childhood nutrition, water supply and storage and other valuable contributions.
I, and probably many who will read this, can recall numerous instances where a failure to work together has been the main block to the development of effective, coordinated care.
I urge us all to follow the examples of those who build kindness, trust, compassion and friendship. Who draw on the best from their humanity. And we may follow the example of one great spiritual leader, Jesus Christ who spent his life going out to the most vulnerable and building community.
Finally, help us in Arukah Network to bring about collaboration in any ways you can think of. You could share your ideas and listen to our podcast for wisdom from local community leaders around the world. And if you'd like to come alongside us in supporting local community leaders, you can become a Friend of Arukah.
Let’s all work together because the community body and the community ecosystem survives and thrives on friendship, trust, and collaboration.
Read how Arukah's community leaders are working with the church to impact those around them here
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