Where There Is No Doctor 2011
USING LOCAL RESOURCES TO MEET NEEDS
How you deal with a problem will depend upon what resources are available.
Some activities require outside resources (materials, money, or people from
somewhere else). For example, a vaccination program is possible only if vaccines are
brought in—often from another country.
Other activities can be carried out completely with local resources. A family or a
group of neighbors can fence off a water hole or build simple latrines using materials
close at hand.
Some outside resources, such as vaccines and a few important medicines, can
make a big difference in people’s health. You should do your best to get them. But as a
general rule, it is in the best interest of your people to
Use local resources whenever possible.
The more you and your
people can do for yourselves,
and the less you have to
depend on outside assistance
and supplies, the healthier and
stronger your community will
become.
Not only can you count on
local resources to be on hand
when you need them, but
often they do the best job at
the lowest cost. For example,
if you can encourage mothers
to breastfeed their babies, this
will build self-reliance through
a top quality local resource—
breast milk! It will also prevent
needless sickness and death
of many babies.
In your health work always
remember:
Encourage people to make
the most of local resources.
BREAST MILK—A TOP QUALITY
LOCAL RESOURCE—BETTER THAN
ANYTHING MONEY CAN BUY!
The most valuable resource for the health of the people is the
people themselves.
w12