Improving Maternal and Child Health in Rural Malawi - Thesis Proposal Example

Improving Maternal and Child Health in rural Malawi Awareness Community Based Organization (ACBO) Traditional ity (TA), Religious Groups, Malawi International Organization (MIO) Two Weeks Project $25000 Executive Summary This proposal revolves around soliciting a small grant of $ 25000 to assist in the improvement of Maternal and Child Health in rural Malawi. Apparently, research about Kachere village articulates that the community is poor health related issues that need urgent solutions. As Awareness Community Based Organization (ACBO) we feel obliged to handle this situation but we are financially incapacitated. As a Community Based Organization, we aim at ensuring that communities live a satisfying life that is free from diseases, hunger, poverty and other related issues. As such, the CBO has come up with five strategies in the proposal namely; Improvement of maternal health in the community, Promote gender equality and empowerment to women, Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, Ensure that the environment is sustained, Eliminate poverty and hunger. Through these strategies, there will be direct and indirect solutions to this challenge and the community will remain healthy and full of life. Moreover, this project has incorporated stakeholders such as Traditional Authority (TA), Religious Groups, and Malawi International Organization (MIO) who will assist in planning and implementing the project. Introduction Apparently, it is evident that Kachere Village in Kasungu District has serious cases of poor health and poverty that has emerged from the poor living conditions of people in the village. Ideally, Eva’s two dead children serves as a perfect example how children have died from diseases such as pneumonia and malaria and those surviving are still suffering from related diseases. Moreover, the agricultural activities revolve around tobacco and maize farming, which are not easy to farm due to their inadequate returns. Furthermore, her husband who is alleged to be absent from home for extensive periods of time in search of employment has also became a challenging issue for Eva since is fear contracting HIV from the existing polygamy set up (Skolnik, 2008).  As a community based organization (CBO) on the ground, we have taken Eva’s living conditions as a sample to work with in the improvement of the living conditions of people in Kachere village (Hovenga & Mantas, 2005). Nevertheless, the CBO is aware that the community has three main stakeholders who are contributing towards development and health issues namely: Traditional Authority and local public services who are mandated in making decisions on what developmental projects are supposed to take place in the community. Nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and International Organizations where the International Organizations have assisted in facilitating loans and savings to most groups that have been formed in the community. Religious affiliated groups which serve as meeting place for community members and nongovernmental organizations Of importance to note is that Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is one of the health issues that is most crucial to human beings. According to USAID (2011), MCH influenced by numerous issues particularly because it revolves around women who are the most vulnerable members in human population. Proposals to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) In reference to the issues on the ground, we as ACBO would propose the following: Improvement of maternal health in the community Promotion of gender equality and empowerment in women Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases Ensure that the environment is sustained Eliminate poverty and hunger Improvement of maternal health in the community According to Eva’s scenario and that of the community in general, it is obvious that only one health facility exists with two nurses and one clinician who split between Chimanga, the nearest health facility and another hospital that is based in Kasungu town. Consequently, Eva has six children as of now, which discourages her for having other children. In this regard, Kachere community requires proper maternal health, which entails good health for women during pregnancy, child birth and the period after birth. Moreover, maternal health revolves around other issues such as family planning, pre conception, prenatal, and postnatal care. As a result, there is reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality (Yamey, 2007). Of importance to note is that maternal health is more important in such a community as it gives women the opportunity to give birth to children whom they can be able to comfortably take care of. Promote gender equality and empowering women According to Eva’s scenario, it is evident that most women in this community do not involve themselves in economic development but instead rely on their husbands to provide for all their basic needs. Moreover, Yamin (2008) articulates that there is an assumption that the place for women in the African set up is the ‘kitchen’. Nevertheless, according to Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that were endorsed by approximately 190 world leaders in 2000, it was necessarily for the world to drop the gender disparity particularly in primary and secondary education in order to allow women become useful members of the community. Consequently, women could be empowered in numerous ways to encourage them to participate in various activities in the community. For instance, if Eva was empowered through education (adult education) at the least then the life of her family would be far much better as compared to now because she would probably be economically productive. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases It is clear that Eva’s community is continuously experiencing disease such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Pneumonia and Diarrhoea. Basically, the community practices polygamy and as such HIV/AIDs prevalence is high especially when men such as Eva’s husband go for extensive periods of time in search of employment, it is highly likely that they would build new families elsewhere. Children in the community such as those of Eva have suffered from Malaria, Pneumonia, and Diarrhoea among other major diseases. In reference to the MDGs, in this era such major diseases should be fought through improved health and giving the community health education on how to avoid and /or prevent these diseases (Shelton, 2011). Ensure that the environment is sustained It is imperative for human beings to sustain the environment in order to have good returns on the agricultural activities and other related issues. According to Sachs (2011), there should be policies and programs aimed at reversing most if not all environmental resources. In addition, there ought to be programs that facilitate access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Consequently, the community has suffered from lack of safe drinking water and basic sanitation, a situation that has facilitated water related diseases like Diarrhoea. In general sense, sustainability of the environment ensures that the life of human beings is improved and the community in this case (Sen, 1999). Eliminate poverty and hunger Kachere village is an example of poverty and hunger related issues across the world. It is worth noting that in most cases poverty is associated with hunger. Bustreo & Hunt (2013) articulate that poverty is one of the MDGs that need to be curbed worldwide to maintain and further feed the existing population. As such, the CBO is determined in reducing the population of community members who earn less than a dollar (world earning standard rate) in a day. Moreover, the CBO will ensure that there is reduction of people who are suffering from hunger as a result of poverty (Annette et al., 2008). Challenges pertaining to these strategies It is for undoubtable reasons that the above strategies will be faced by numerous challenges during their planning, implementation and /or outcomes. Similarly, it is highly likely that the strategies might bring environmental, social, political and economic effects (Morrison, 2011). Firstly, during planning or improvement of maternal health, it might be difficult for the only health facility to come up with such programs since it is experiencing a shortage of medical practitioners who are supposed to initiate such programs to reproductive members in the community and further implement it (Ehiri, 2009). Secondly, it might be challenging to promote gender equality and further empower women since the community is African based and most women are not educated. Furthermore, those willing to be educated might not find time to do so because they have children and families to look after. With this assumption then it becomes far much difficult to even empower them. Thirdly, the issue of combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases could go through planning but might not experience the implementation phase. For instance, it might be challenging to implement the HIV/AIDS strategies the community practices polygamy which is highly likely to replace this type of marriage for monogamy. Fourthly, environmental sustainability might not be achievable since most community members have inadequate knowledge on how to sustain the environment to give them good return. In fact, they are more concerned with farming tobacco and maize without necessarily taking care of the land. Finally, the issue of poverty is extremely challenging since the community is experiencing adverse hunger which compels men to go for long periods in search of casual jobs. Apparently, the two economic activities that are frequently experienced by the community are farming and casual employment. Nevertheless, these activities are not sufficient for maintaining families (Wickramasinghe, 2012). During this period of time, thee five strategies are likely to cause negative effects on social, political, environmental and economic aspects. Basically, maternal health, combating major diseases and promoting gender equality and empowerment automatically has social and economic negative effects. Conversely, eliminating poverty and hunger and environmental sustainability might potentially have environmental and economic negative effects (Varley, Tarvid, & Chao, 1998). Anticipate steps to mitigate them The current health facility in Kachere village will require addition health practitioners who will be able to handle Maternal and Child Health. This will automatically need finances for the hiring more practitioners preferably four individuals. The community especially women should be encouraged to participate in educative brought by CBOs including adult education to advance their lives and those of their families. The community should be discouraged against polygamy and instead they should be encouraged to have a one wife family to combat HIV/AIDS. Moreover, diseases such as Diarrhoea dictates that there should use of safe water for drinking while the rest should be treated upon discovery. The communication could be educated on better farming including crop rotation to improve their agricultural activities. The community needs more economic related activities order to reduce poverty and hunger. Statement of Priority As the current CBO on the ground, we would like to make priority on the five proposal strategies that were have put forward in the event that the small grant of $25,000 is given to the organization in order to transform and improve the lives of Kachere village. Eliminating poverty and hunger Combat HIV/AIDS Malaria and other diseases Promote gender equality and empowerment to women Improvement of maternal health in the community Ensure that the environment is sustain According to the research done by member it was ascertained that the most important issue is that the community required urgently was reduction of poverty and the availability of food to members of community. Then there was the issue of ensuring good health was maintained through preventing and treating diseases. Consequently, the three remaining strategies namely: promoting gender equality and empowering women, maternal health improvement and environment sustainability are supposed to follow in a row. Budgeting Personnel: two professionals from the health sector will be requested to take part in the assessment of the medical requirement for the project. Since they will be working on a part time basis, they will be paid per hours they spend in the project. They will spend approximately 10 days and 3 hours per day totaling to 60 hours for both of them. They will be paid $50 per hour. Therefore, they will spend $3,000 in total. Transport and meals: the two weeks research will require transport. 2 4wheel drive landcruisers will be required to travel in the interior. Hiring price will be $200 per day. A total of $4,000 will be required. Meals for four people, myself, assistant researcher and the two health workers will cost $200 for all of us in a day. Therefore, a total of $2,000 will be required for all of us till the end of the research. Equipment: video recording and other associated equipment will cost $5,000 in total. 2 sets of computers will cost $2,000. Contractual: evaluators of the required cost of drugs and other health requirements will be paid a total of $5,000. Other: local participants costs and report printing cost will total to $1,000. Other costs will total to $3,000. (See appendix) Statement of Contribution Awareness Community Based Organization is a CBO that has 10 members. Apparently, all members have contributed immensely to this report. Member 1: Contributed in officially communicating to the three main stakeholders on the intended project of our organization. Member 2: Created awareness to the community on Improvement of maternal health in the community strategy Member 3: Created awareness to the community on Promote gender equality and empowerment to women strategy Member 4: Created awareness to the community on Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. Member 5: Created awareness to the community on Ensuring that the environment is sustained Member 6: Created awareness to the community on Eliminating poverty and hunger Member 7, 8 & 9 were involved in thorough research in the identifying the challenges in community. Member 10 wrote the proposal requesting for the grant Item Cost $ 1 Personnel 3,000 2 Transport 6,000 3 Equipment 7,000 4 Contractual 5,000 5 Other 4,000 6 Total 25,000 Budget Plan Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form References Bottom of Form Annette, P. et al. (2008). Safer water, better health: costs, benefits and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health. Retrieved on 17th Oct 2014 from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241596435_eng.pdf Bustreo, F. & Hunt, P. (2013). Women’s and children’s health: evidence of impact of human rights. Retrieved on 17th Oct 2014 from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/84203/1/9789241505420_eng.pdf Ehiri, J. (2009). Maternal and child health: Global challenges, programs, and policies. New York: Springer-Verlag. Hovenga, E. J. S., & Mantas, J. (2005). Global health informatics education. Amsterdam: IOS Press. Morrison, E. E. (2011). Ethics in health administration: A practical approach for decision makers. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sachs, J. (2011). The end of poverty: how we can make it happen in our lifetime. New York: Penguin Books Limited. Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Shelton, J.D. (2011). Twenty criteria to make the best of scarce health resources in developing countries. BMJ, 1-7. Skolnik, R. L. (2008). Essentials of global health. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. USAID (2011). Strengthening community health systems to improve health care at the community level. Retrieved on 17th Oct 2014 from: https://www.usaidassist.org/sites/assist/files/communityhealthsystems_oct11.pdf Varley, R.C.G; Tarvid, J. & Chao, D.N.W. (1998). A reassessment of the cost-effectiveness of water and sanitation interventions in programmes for controlling childhood diarrhea. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 76 (6), 617-631. Wickramasinghe, N. (2012). Critical issues for the development of sustainable e-health solutions. New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Yamey, G. (2007). Which single intervention would do the most to improve the health of those living on less than $1 per day? PLoS Medicine, 4 (10), 1557-1560. Yamin, E.A. (2008). Will we take suffering seriously? Reflections on what applying a human rights framework to health means and why we should care? Health and Human Rights, 10 (1), 45-63. Read More