Partners in Health by Joan Gunby "While coordinated, complementary and mutually planned actions between governments and NGOs are still a long way off, there are exciting trends and developments all over the world, which augur well for the movement towards Health for all by the year 2000" T he 40th Anniversary of WHO marks 40 years of working actively with non-govern- mental organizations (NGOs) in a multiplicity of ways in a wide vari- ety of WHO programmes. NGOs themselves will share in marking the Anniversary with special health promotion events connected to their own activities all over the world. WHO in its turn is happy to pay tribute to their valuable work and to further encourage their ster- ling support for the mix of national , regional and global action which will lead to a healthier world. A growing partnership between governments and NGOs is a clear necessity for the attainment of Health for all . Dialogue and interac- tion between governments, NGOs and WHO as partners in health can be one of the vital keys for turning health strategies into action. Ms Joan Gunby is external relations officer with WHO's Programme for External Coordination . This was the overriding message from the 600 participants represent- ing government authorities and NGOs during the 1985 Technical Discussions on the role of NGOs in reaching the goal of Health for all. As each year, the Discussions took place during the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva. There are a few examples of the 12 Gururaj S. Mutalik, writing in the March 1985 issue of World Health many different partnerships which are developing and which illustrate how this international call has been taken up. Much more remains to be done, and WHO continues to pro- mote and support such partner- ships. Meanwhile governments and the private sector in their turn are moving closer to a harmonious alli- ance to get the health job done. Bridges of understanding Such experiments in partnership, promoted and supported by wHo , were carried out between 1982 and 1985 in several countries with great- ly differing cultural backgrounds, geographical settings and health problems. In countries as far apart as Thailand and Trinidad and To- bago, in Bolivia and Nepal , in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Sudan , in Malaysia and six states of India , ministry of health officials met with representative groups of NGOs operating health-related projects in the country. The purpose was to clarify their different roles, seek complementarity of action , and work towards fully-fledged cooper- ation. Today all these countries re- port positive progress . Directories of information on NGOs and their activities have been compiled and distributed. Public health govern- ment departments have appointed focal points to keep in contact with NGOs, while NGO representatives participate in national and district health committees . These bridges of understanding ensure harmony of effort, and help to avoid dupli- cation and achieve a more efficient use of scarce resources . Harmony in primary health care In Swaziland and Zimbabwe, a representative group of NGOs working in each country got togeth- er with the health authorities to A needy community in Thailand-one of several countries which took part in experiments in partnership between gov- ernments and NGOs. Photo International Planned Parenthood Federation/ J. Rowley W oRLD HEALTH, Jan ./Feb. 1988 look at ways of improving their own contributions to the government's national health policy, and of har- monising their various activities. In Lesotho, health authorities and NGOs came together to run work- shops to train local village health ·workers. These activities were sponsored and supported by a group of international NGOs which is working closely with WHO and UNICEF in primary health care. More recently, Zimbabwe . and Lesotho have each produced a "Directory of health NGOs" in their countries as another compo- nent of the joint undertaking. Speaking for all In Rwanda, the Board of Rec- ognised Medical Institutions of Rwanda (BUFMAR) started small in 1975 but today performs a coor- dinating function for its 117 mem- ber medical institutions. It acts as official spokesman for those mem- bers with the government public health authorities, participating in national committees which coordi- nate health projects. BUFMAR also operates a phar- macy and drug store, importing raw materials and then manufacturing and selling essential drugs. Posters, flanellographs and other health education materials are produced in its own workshop on such sub- jects as nutrition, clean water, per- sonal hygiene and pre-natal care, for use by health workers and others. Another department main- tains and repairs medical equip- ment, from microscopes and blood pressure instruments to X-ray units. Since 1985, solar energy has been used in these installations. In the global arena, BUFMAR collaborates with Medicus Mundi Internationalis, the Christian Medi- cal Commission and international NGOs working worldwide in health care. Last year, BUFMAR's repre- sentative was included in the dele- gation of Rwanda to the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Working partnership In an unprecedented gesture in 1982, SEWA-Rural, a small volun- tary body in Gujarat, India, was handed the responsibility by the Gujarat State Government for managing a community health pro- WoRLD HEALTH , Jan./Feb. 1988 gramme in 40 villages. For some years SEWA-Rural had been run- ning the local 40-bed hospital, pro- viding a full range of in-patient and out-patient services for a rural population in 400 villages. Many patients suffered from prevent- able illnesses. SEWA decided to start an ex- perimental community health pro- ject serving about 10,000 people, aimed at taking health services to the villages and- through the health workers-helping the local com- munity to understand how to pre- vent illness and improve health. For this experiment to be success- ful, SEWA was convinced that a true dialogue with government was essential. The health authorities' and SEWA's roles were distinctly different but inseparable and in fact they depended on each other. A working partnership was the only way to bring public financial re- sources to the service of the commu- nity. The extent of mutual confi- dence and trust thus built up is demonstrated by the support wl;lich followed from the district panchayat · and, subsequently, from the State Government itself. In 1985, SEWA-Rural was one of the recipients of the Sasakawa Health Prize awarded during the 38th World Health Assembly. Dr Lata Desai, in accepting the award on behalf of SEWA, paid tribute to A Red Cross centre for food distribu- tion during the Sahel famine. Photo League of Red Cross Societies/L. de Toledo the mutual understanding built up with the health authorities and add- ed: "Thanks to this participation, we should be able to achieve, for our project area, Health for all by the year 2000 much before the tar- get date." Rotary International and WHO have joined hands with several countries in the Polio-Plus Immu- nization project. This has the dual objectives of raising funds for vac- cines and marshalling Rotarians worldwide to mobilise community support for the immunization of youngsters against the six major killer diseases of childhood- measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus. , and tuberculosis. Up to now more than US $37 million in grants have been made by Rotary to 42 cm~ntries to buy oral polio vaccine, measles vaccine and the special refrigeration equip- ment ne((ded for storage. Rotarians take part in national immunization campaigns. They then help to main- tain the initial enthusiasm thus gen- erated by encouraging families to go on protecting their children by immunization- thus truly providing " a chance for every child." • 13
Partners in Health by Joan Gunby "While coordinated, complementary and mutually planned actions between governments and NGOs are still a long way off, there are exciting trends and developments all over the world, which augur well for the movement towards Health for all by the year 2000" T he 40th Anniversary of WHO marks 40 years of working actively with non-govern- mental organizations (NGOs) in a multiplicity of ways in a wide vari- ety of WHO programmes. NGOs themselves will share in marking the Anniversary with special health promotion events connected to their own activities all over the world. WHO in its turn is happy to pay tribute to their valuable work and to further encourage their ster- ling support for the mix of national , regional and global action which will lead to a healthier world. A growing partnership between governments and NGOs is a clear necessity for the attainment of Health for all . Dialogue and interac- tion between governments, NGOs and WHO as partners in health can be one of the vital keys for turning health strategies into action. Ms Joan Gunby is external relations officer with WHO's Programme for External Coordination . This was the overriding message from the 600 participants represent- ing government authorities and NGOs during the 1985 Technical Discussions on the role of NGOs in reaching the goal of Health for all. As each year, the Discussions took place during the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva. There are a few examples of the 12 Gururaj S. Mutalik, writing in the March 1985 issue of World Health many different partnerships which are developing and which illustrate how this international call has been taken up. Much more remains to be done, and WHO continues to pro- mote and support such partner- ships. Meanwhile governments and the private sector in their turn are moving closer to a harmonious alli- ance to get the health job done. Bridges of understanding Such experiments in partnership, promoted and supported by wHo , were carried out between 1982 and 1985 in several countries with great- ly differing cultural backgrounds, geographical settings and health problems. In countries as far apart as Thailand and Trinidad and To- bago, in Bolivia and Nepal , in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Sudan , in Malaysia and six states of India , ministry of health officials met with representative groups of NGOs operating health-related projects in the country. The purpose was to clarify their different roles, seek complementarity of action , and work towards fully-fledged cooper- ation. Today all these countries re- port positive progress . Directories of information on NGOs and their activities have been compiled and distributed. Public health govern- ment departments have appointed focal points to keep in contact with NGOs, while NGO representatives participate in national and district health committees . These bridges of understanding ensure harmony of effort, and help to avoid dupli- cation and achieve a more efficient use of scarce resources . Harmony in primary health care In Swaziland and Zimbabwe, a representative group of NGOs working in each country got togeth- er with the health authorities to A needy community in Thailand-one of several countries which took part in experiments in partnership between gov- ernments and NGOs. Photo International Planned Parenthood Federation/ J. Rowley W oRLD HEALTH, Jan ./Feb. 1988 look at ways of improving their own contributions to the government's national health policy, and of har- monising their various activities. In Lesotho, health authorities and NGOs came together to run work- shops to train local village health ·workers. These activities were sponsored and supported by a group of international NGOs which is working closely with WHO and UNICEF in primary health care. More recently, Zimbabwe . and Lesotho have each produced a "Directory of health NGOs" in their countries as another compo- nent of the joint undertaking. Speaking for all In Rwanda, the Board of Rec- ognised Medical Institutions of Rwanda (BUFMAR) started small in 1975 but today performs a coor- dinating function for its 117 mem- ber medical institutions. It acts as official spokesman for those mem- bers with the government public health authorities, participating in national committees which coordi- nate health projects. BUFMAR also operates a phar- macy and drug store, importing raw materials and then manufacturing and selling essential drugs. Posters, flanellographs and other health education materials are produced in its own workshop on such sub- jects as nutrition, clean water, per- sonal hygiene and pre-natal care, for use by health workers and others. Another department main- tains and repairs medical equip- ment, from microscopes and blood pressure instruments to X-ray units. Since 1985, solar energy has been used in these installations. In the global arena, BUFMAR collaborates with Medicus Mundi Internationalis, the Christian Medi- cal Commission and international NGOs working worldwide in health care. Last year, BUFMAR's repre- sentative was included in the dele- gation of Rwanda to the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Working partnership In an unprecedented gesture in 1982, SEWA-Rural, a small volun- tary body in Gujarat, India, was handed the responsibility by the Gujarat State Government for managing a community health pro- WoRLD HEALTH , Jan./Feb. 1988 gramme in 40 villages. For some years SEWA-Rural had been run- ning the local 40-bed hospital, pro- viding a full range of in-patient and out-patient services for a rural population in 400 villages. Many patients suffered from prevent- able illnesses. SEWA decided to start an ex- perimental community health pro- ject serving about 10,000 people, aimed at taking health services to the villages and- through the health workers-helping the local com- munity to understand how to pre- vent illness and improve health. For this experiment to be success- ful, SEWA was convinced that a true dialogue with government was essential. The health authorities' and SEWA's roles were distinctly different but inseparable and in fact they depended on each other. A working partnership was the only way to bring public financial re- sources to the service of the commu- nity. The extent of mutual confi- dence and trust thus built up is demonstrated by the support wl;lich followed from the district panchayat · and, subsequently, from the State Government itself. In 1985, SEWA-Rural was one of the recipients of the Sasakawa Health Prize awarded during the 38th World Health Assembly. Dr Lata Desai, in accepting the award on behalf of SEWA, paid tribute to A Red Cross centre for food distribu- tion during the Sahel famine. Photo League of Red Cross Societies/L. de Toledo the mutual understanding built up with the health authorities and add- ed: "Thanks to this participation, we should be able to achieve, for our project area, Health for all by the year 2000 much before the tar- get date." Rotary International and WHO have joined hands with several countries in the Polio-Plus Immu- nization project. This has the dual objectives of raising funds for vac- cines and marshalling Rotarians worldwide to mobilise community support for the immunization of youngsters against the six major killer diseases of childhood- measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus. , and tuberculosis. Up to now more than US $37 million in grants have been made by Rotary to 42 cm~ntries to buy oral polio vaccine, measles vaccine and the special refrigeration equip- ment ne((ded for storage. Rotarians take part in national immunization campaigns. They then help to main- tain the initial enthusiasm thus gen- erated by encouraging families to go on protecting their children by immunization- thus truly providing " a chance for every child." • 13
Partners in Health by Joan Gunby "While coordinated, complementary and mutually planned actions between governments and NGOs are still a long way off, there are exciting trends and developments all over the world, which augur well for the movement towards Health for all by the year 2000" T he 40th Anniversary of WHO marks 40 years of working actively with non-govern- mental organizations (NGOs) in a multiplicity of ways in a wide vari- ety of WHO programmes. NGOs themselves will share in marking the Anniversary with special health promotion events connected to their own activities all over the world. WHO in its turn is happy to pay tribute to their valuable work and to further encourage their ster- ling support for the mix of national , regional and global action which will lead to a healthier world. A growing partnership between governments and NGOs is a clear necessity for the attainment of Health for all . Dialogue and interac- tion between governments, NGOs and WHO as partners in health can be one of the vital keys for turning health strategies into action. Ms Joan Gunby is external relations officer with WHO's Programme for External Coordination . This was the overriding message from the 600 participants represent- ing government authorities and NGOs during the 1985 Technical Discussions on the role of NGOs in reaching the goal of Health for all. As each year, the Discussions took place during the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva. There are a few examples of the 12 Gururaj S. Mutalik, writing in the March 1985 issue of World Health many different partnerships which are developing and which illustrate how this international call has been taken up. Much more remains to be done, and WHO continues to pro- mote and support such partner- ships. Meanwhile governments and the private sector in their turn are moving closer to a harmonious alli- ance to get the health job done. Bridges of understanding Such experiments in partnership, promoted and supported by wHo , were carried out between 1982 and 1985 in several countries with great- ly differing cultural backgrounds, geographical settings and health problems. In countries as far apart as Thailand and Trinidad and To- bago, in Bolivia and Nepal , in the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Sudan , in Malaysia and six states of India , ministry of health officials met with representative groups of NGOs operating health-related projects in the country. The purpose was to clarify their different roles, seek complementarity of action , and work towards fully-fledged cooper- ation. Today all these countries re- port positive progress . Directories of information on NGOs and their activities have been compiled and distributed. Public health govern- ment departments have appointed focal points to keep in contact with NGOs, while NGO representatives participate in national and district health committees . These bridges of understanding ensure harmony of effort, and help to avoid dupli- cation and achieve a more efficient use of scarce resources . Harmony in primary health care In Swaziland and Zimbabwe, a representative group of NGOs working in each country got togeth- er with the health authorities to A needy community in Thailand-one of several countries which took part in experiments in partnership between gov- ernments and NGOs. Photo International Planned Parenthood Federation/ J. Rowley W oRLD HEALTH, Jan ./Feb. 1988 look at ways of improving their own contributions to the government's national health policy, and of har- monising their various activities. In Lesotho, health authorities and NGOs came together to run work- shops to train local village health ·workers. These activities were sponsored and supported by a group of international NGOs which is working closely with WHO and UNICEF in primary health care. More recently, Zimbabwe . and Lesotho have each produced a "Directory of health NGOs" in their countries as another compo- nent of the joint undertaking. Speaking for all In Rwanda, the Board of Rec- ognised Medical Institutions of Rwanda (BUFMAR) started small in 1975 but today performs a coor- dinating function for its 117 mem- ber medical institutions. It acts as official spokesman for those mem- bers with the government public health authorities, participating in national committees which coordi- nate health projects. BUFMAR also operates a phar- macy and drug store, importing raw materials and then manufacturing and selling essential drugs. Posters, flanellographs and other health education materials are produced in its own workshop on such sub- jects as nutrition, clean water, per- sonal hygiene and pre-natal care, for use by health workers and others. Another department main- tains and repairs medical equip- ment, from microscopes and blood pressure instruments to X-ray units. Since 1985, solar energy has been used in these installations. In the global arena, BUFMAR collaborates with Medicus Mundi Internationalis, the Christian Medi- cal Commission and international NGOs working worldwide in health care. Last year, BUFMAR's repre- sentative was included in the dele- gation of Rwanda to the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Working partnership In an unprecedented gesture in 1982, SEWA-Rural, a small volun- tary body in Gujarat, India, was handed the responsibility by the Gujarat State Government for managing a community health pro- WoRLD HEALTH , Jan./Feb. 1988 gramme in 40 villages. For some years SEWA-Rural had been run- ning the local 40-bed hospital, pro- viding a full range of in-patient and out-patient services for a rural population in 400 villages. Many patients suffered from prevent- able illnesses. SEWA decided to start an ex- perimental community health pro- ject serving about 10,000 people, aimed at taking health services to the villages and- through the health workers-helping the local com- munity to understand how to pre- vent illness and improve health. For this experiment to be success- ful, SEWA was convinced that a true dialogue with government was essential. The health authorities' and SEWA's roles were distinctly different but inseparable and in fact they depended on each other. A working partnership was the only way to bring public financial re- sources to the service of the commu- nity. The extent of mutual confi- dence and trust thus built up is demonstrated by the support wl;lich followed from the district panchayat · and, subsequently, from the State Government itself. In 1985, SEWA-Rural was one of the recipients of the Sasakawa Health Prize awarded during the 38th World Health Assembly. Dr Lata Desai, in accepting the award on behalf of SEWA, paid tribute to A Red Cross centre for food distribu- tion during the Sahel famine. Photo League of Red Cross Societies/L. de Toledo the mutual understanding built up with the health authorities and add- ed: "Thanks to this participation, we should be able to achieve, for our project area, Health for all by the year 2000 much before the tar- get date." Rotary International and WHO have joined hands with several countries in the Polio-Plus Immu- nization project. This has the dual objectives of raising funds for vac- cines and marshalling Rotarians worldwide to mobilise community support for the immunization of youngsters against the six major killer diseases of childhood- measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus. , and tuberculosis. Up to now more than US $37 million in grants have been made by Rotary to 42 cm~ntries to buy oral polio vaccine, measles vaccine and the special refrigeration equip- ment ne((ded for storage. Rotarians take part in national immunization campaigns. They then help to main- tain the initial enthusiasm thus gen- erated by encouraging families to go on protecting their children by immunization- thus truly providing " a chance for every child." • 13