Health Program

We are situated in a rural setting where access to health care services is severely limited. The nearest health care center is 25 km away. The lack of adequate transport coupled with the fact that most rural people live in dire poverty means there are high illness incidence and morbidity rates. Many sick people will walk for two, three and even 4 hours to come for help.
Our health program was birthed in our early years here while we still lived in tents. Over the years it has grown and developed in response to the physical suffering in the surrounding communities. The focus of our health program is to deliver primary care through two rural health posts and to promote community health with an emphasis on prevention.
Each rural health post is staffed by Mozambican health care workers, or ‘Socorristas' as they’re referred to here. The training for socorristas is a 2 week course provided free of charge at the government-run district hospital. The socorristas receive a medicine kit each month that contains 10 basic medicines as well as dressing supplies. They also participate with health department staff in local immunization campaigns. When necessary, they make ‘house calls’ to those who are unable to come to the health posts.

The role we as a mission play is to: 1. Identify areas desperately needing health posts, 2. Work with the local communities to recruit suitable health care workers and 3. Work to provide ongoing in-service training, motivation and encouragement to ensure the best quality health care is provided given the context.

Our aim in community health promotion is to be culturally relevant and to involve community members themselves in the planning of health classes and activities. A handbook is currently being compiled with basic lessons on illness prevention and first aid measures. The handbook will be used by group leaders in churches, women’s literacy classes, etc as well as in schools. The aim of the program is to bring about healthy changes in behaviour through the sharing of health information, and to tailor the program to the community’s perceived needs and priorities in order to encourage participation and foster a sense of responsibility for their own health.
We receive visits each year from expatriate health care professionals and nursing students for overseas practicum/clinical experiences. These visits are instrumental in helping to:
1. Enable capacity building and provide an excellent chance for relationship building and cultural exchange for both visitors and the local people.
2. Provide exposure of the needs of underserved communities to visitors in order to promote practical involvement.
3. Provide opportunity for visitors to contribute skills and experience in needy communities.