AFRO-NETS> Community Participation in a Rural Health and Nutrition Program (3)

[Hellen Myezwa <myezwa@zamtel.zm>]

Community Participation in a Rural Health and Nutrition Program (3)
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On Mon, 21 Oct 2002 16:10:35 -0400 (EDT)
Dr. Shamim Moula <shormin@tistaonline.com> wrote:

> 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


Dear Dr Shamim ul Moula,

Sorry for this rather late response to your interesting observations a 
part I quote above. I have been studying community participation in the 
context of rural rehabilitation. The principles however remain the same. 
Developing community participation is in itself as you rightly say 
lengthy process and the way it is understood by all concerned is tanta-
mount to its success. The process of gaining understanding is also part 
of the participation process. It is perhaps at this stage that partici-
pation is gained. Perhaps gaining of a deeper understanding of the 
"source of irritation" would lead to further insight and better results 
in this case.

Good luck.

Hellen Myezwa
Zambia
mailto:myezwa@zamtel.zm

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