Dispatch 9: Open Forums For Health: Community Dialogue Days

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MAISHA OPEN FORUMS FOR HEALTH: Community Dialogue Days MAISHA supported ten Dialogue Days between

with training in community health, data collection, and

community members and Community Health Volunteers

maternal and newborn health. In turn, CHVs used the

(CHVs) during November and December in Migori. The

Dialogue Day as a platform to encourage women to visit

Dialogue Days, hosted outdoors within the community,

health facilities for family planning, pregnancy care,

were an opportunity for CHVs and community members to

and for delivery. Likewise, TBAs who had recently

share their experiences and air concerns about health in

participated in sensitization training with MAISHA,

their community. All community stakeholders were

publicly spoke of their support for facility-based

invited to participate, including local chiefs and elders,

maternal care.

community members, CHVs, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and the Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW). The meeting, largely moderated by the CHEW, presented the data collected by CHVs’ household visits, community members’ questions, and the most pressing health concerns in the community related to maternal and child health.

Days.

opportunities

members were able to share their experiences. A number of concerns were raised, including: access to facilities, myths about family planning, and questions about nutrition. These topics are challenging for a number

of

reasons

and

resulted

in

enthusiastic

discussion. Both the CHVs and CHEW offered know-

CHVs played a major role in the success of the Dialogue

Following the CHVs’ presentation, community

for

The

forum

CHVs

to

was

one

present

of

the

themselves

first

how and understanding to the dialogue; however, some questions

were

left

unanswered.

Even

so,

the

to

community was empowered to debate the health-

community members in a gathering, which resulted in the

related issues it faces and propose its own solutions.

recognition from the elders needed to bolster their work.

Dialogue Days are planned for each quarter of the year

CHVs were enabled to demonstrate their knowledge and

and are an opportunity for CHVs and the community to

the data gathered from their household visits. Community

plan action days such as immunization campaigns,

members were impressed that the CHVs were equipped

nutritional assessments, and maternal health clinics.

UPCOMING: • February 2016: o Income Generating Activity training o Traditional Birth Attendants’ Facility Forums o Male Focus-Groups • March 2016: o Year 4 wrap-up o Year 5 planning


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