Martin Carroll: The key is with the caregivers

The Aid Debate - Martin Carroll: The key is with the caregivers

The Aid Debate

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Martin Carroll: The key is with the caregivers	[Nov. 20th, 2009\|02:41 pm]
Ten years on from the historic Millennium Declaration, which promised redoubled efforts to eradicate poverty and improve health, we still face the shocking reality that, in many developing countries, tens of thousands of children die needlessly every day. The latest report by World Vision, Child Health Now, underlines how simple interventions, which address the critical health needs of communities, can play a pivotal role in reducing the toll of preventable deaths. I am actively involved with Healthcare Information for All by 2015 (HIFA2015), an international network, bringing together over 3000 individuals from 150 countries in pursuit of a common goal: by 2015, every person worldwide will have access to an informed healthcare provider. We know that many child deaths are preventable if the health worker or caregiver knows what to do or where to seek help. In developing countries, that health worker or caregiver is often a parent and so initiatives such as World Vision's Hearth Programme in Bangladesh are a valuable resource, providing mothers with practical information which they can use to improve the health of their children. Hand-washing with soap can prevent the spread of diarrhoea and save a child's life. When that knowledge is passed on to other members of the community, the power of the 'simple intervention' becomes apparent. In addition, HIFA2015 welcomes the report's emphasis on the importance of community health workers (CHWs) in addressing this crisis. A recent study by the Institute of Development Studies concluded that, 'CHWs should be recognised both internationally and nationally as a distinct cadre of health professionals, who - by the nature of their position in the community, can access disadvantaged populations well beyond the reach of the health system.' In 2010, for its third Annual Challenge, HIFA2015 will focus on the information and training needs of CHWs. For more information on HIFA2015 and how to become involved in our work, please visit hifa2015.org. Martin Carroll works for the British Medical Association as Joint Co-Ordinator for the HIFA Challenge Working Group.
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