AFRO-NETS> RFI: Community Participation in a Rural Health and Nutrition Program

["Dr. Shamim Moula" <shormin@tistaonline.com>]

RFI: Community Participation in a Rural Health and Nutrition Program
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Dear all,

Best wishes from Bangladesh. I require urgent information about the 
nature and the types of community participation in any rural health 
program. We know community can participate in many phases in a 
(health) program in many ways. From designing to implementation of 
the program, community participation has been always a mean towards 
sustainability of a program. We have MCH programs in the rural ground 
with static and satellite centers for service delivery. Also we have 
campaign teams to motivate the beneficiaries. 

Can any body suggest the possibilities and extents of achieving com-
munity participations from the community. Say for, we have over 46 
and 38 general satellite clinics and maternity clinics (for ANC/PNC) 
in our rural activity or program area respectively. As community par-
ticipation, in conventional approach, if we want rooms/houses for our 
satellite centers from community, it is appeared that the community 
has been becoming increasingly disturbed/irritated or expressing dis-
mays in this approach. Then what to do? There are many things like 
that! 

Sometimes, as a public health worker and NGO grassroots organizer 
with long experience in the ground, I think that it is better not to 
hurry for achieving this "participation" so early, specially in the 
poverty-stricken country like Bangladesh where the poor rural people 
rarely have extra-houses to be offered free of cost for a active 
"community participation", this approach can deter the rural people 
from the program or make them irritated, rather it is better to try 
for their active participation in cost sharing (they are already do-
ing for quality health service by us) and community mobilizations for 
different aspects of the health program. 

Is it not better to get those rural satellite centers in rented 
houses (community want less than original rent and we have that 
money!). Now a debate is going on in our organization in the issue. I 
have trouble to convince my colleagues in the context. Can any body 
please brief me the possible types and natures of different community 
participations for a health program in a very poor country like Bang-
ladesh?

Awaiting eagerly for any suggestion.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Shamim ul Moula
Program Coordinator, Health & Nutrition
Chinnamukul, Bangladesh
mailto:shormin@tistaonline.com

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