10-3
COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEES
Of the four groups that form the support system for the health worker, the most
important is the community. Even if the outside health program is discontinued (as
often happens), a health worker with strong community support can continue to
work effectively.
A well-organized village health committee can be an enormous help in leading
activities and encouraging people to take part. Unfortunately, many ‘community
health committees’ do little. They start off full of enthusiasm, but because of
problems with selection of members, leadership, or motivation, they gradually
become inactive.
The selection of a responsible, hard-working committee can be a first step toward
helping the poor gain fairer representation and more control over factors that affect
their health and lives. To be effective, health committees need members who
will actively represent the poor.
Committees as they often end up:
formed and controlled by
corrupt local leaders
or
puppet groups only,
with little sense of purpose
Committees as
they should be:
TOW STORIES FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Forming a health committee in Ngbokoto
In the village of Ngbokoto lived a health
worker named Etienne. He had been
instructed by his program leaders to form
a community health committee to help
organize activities. “Be sure to include
the political leaders/’ he was told. “Then
your committee will have the power and
leadership it needs.”
So Etienne went to the mayor, who
welcomed the idea. “I’ll do all the work,”
said the mayor. “Just leave it in my hands. I’ll
even choose the members.” The mayor chose
his brother-in-law, some rich friends, a big
landholder, and a merchant who had a truck
to help carry supplies.
The committee accomplished very little. At meetings,
members proposed good ideas for health activities, but
nothing ever seemed to get done. It was never made
clear who was responsible for anything, so no one did
much. There was no special schedule for meetings.
Some meetings ended early because nothing had been
planned or because so few persons attended.
Soon Etienne had other problems. Committee
members expected free care and medicines for their
families. Finally they took control of Etienne’s village
medicine supply, saying they would “help with the
distribution.” The committee ended up selling some of
the drugs secretly for personal Tprofit.
What do you suppose went wrong with this committee? What would your health
workers do to form a better one? Before reading the next story, have the group
make a list of ideas for choosing and running an effective health committee.