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HealthEd Connect's philosophy

Our Philosophy

The foundation for our programs is participatory research (PR) conducted by community health workers (CHW) and local leaders. PR empowers people from the beginning since they are totally involved and “the experts” from the start. It increases self-esteem, self-confidence, increased status for women and prepares leaders for tomorrow.

The role of the volunteer community health worker is key to the success of HealthEd Connect. Armed with knowledge in World Health Organization endorsed primary health care areas (nutrition, immunizations, oral rehydration therapy, under-five monitoring, sanitation, basic first aid and prenatal care) the CHWs become the link and coach along the pathway from birth to adulthood. CHW’s teach and monitor pregnant women assuring the delivery of healthier babies; they become Traditional Birth Attendants ushering babies safely into the world; they provide monthly baby weighing clinics under a tree or in borrowed facilities where they teach mothers the essentials of child care; they provide home-based care when parents are ill or dying from AIDS; they identify children who are not in school and refer them to the community schools established specifically to serve these children. They are advocates for children.

Advocates such as CHW’s are desperately needed for the overwhelming challenge of 14 million AIDS orphans in SubSahara Africa alone. We were recently approached by a CHW trained over 17 years ago who wanted to work with the orphans. One of the needs she identified was that of the caregivers, many of whom are illiterate grandmothers with no marketable skills, who now have full responsibility for the care of young grandchildren. When a community survey was conducted, the caregivers indicated their most pressing need was schools for the children. Traditionally many people have sought to assist the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s) by establishing orphanages. We do not support the concept of orphanages where children lose what little family connection they might have left. Instead, we support programs that strengthen the community and caregivers so the children can remain with their families.

HealthEd Connect is the facilitator that helps uncover the capabilities, dreams, and hopes that already exist. As one of our good friends in Zambia said, “We have the passion. We just don’t know how to package it.” HealthEd Connect is the link between this passion and the package.