North African Community Health Initiative
The North African Community Health Initiative will provide community health care professionals from Morocco and Egypt a new set of tools, resources, and knowledge to enhance rural health care services in their respective communities. In particular, this program will build the capacity of professionals who serve marginalized populations, particularly women and children.
Villagers at a rural health unit in Upper Egypt.
This initiative has multiple phases, spanning two years and including two inbound U.S. programs, two outbound North African trips, and local projects in North Africa. Activities will introduce the North African professionals to public health strategies and media utilization techniques for educating women and children in such topics as reproductive health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation.
Who’s Involved
Participants from Morocco, Egypt and the U.S. are community leaders and professionals positioned to effect positive change in the health of their communities, including: doctors, nurses, public health officials, medics, and/or midwives, as well as health-focused community leaders, activists, educators, NGO or charity group workers, and media specialist who focus their “lens” on health issues.
- Two groups of participants from Morocco and Egypt travel to the U.S. for the initial phase of the program . See profiles of Participants in Spring and Participants in Fall.
- Later, U.S. professionals within the health care sector travel to Morocco and Egypt.
Enjoy the Slideshow! – Spring NACHI Participants from Morocco and Egypt in the U.S.
NACHI Fellows meet with Legacy's President, J.E. Rash Ahmed (Egypt) and Mary (Morocco) prepare for a today's session Elia (Egypt) and Hanane (Morocco) in session Sondus (Morocco) sharing thoughts with Mitra Rash, Legacy's NACHI Program Director Mary caught in the sudden spring shower! Sarah (Egypt) and Aicha (Morocco) sightseeing in Washington DC Department of State on this fine spring morning. NACHI Fellows tour pediatric clinic NACHI Fellows share traditional dress at Roanoke's "Local Colors" Festival with Legacy's Alumni Director, Innocentia Afa Fatima and Hanane prepare authentic homecooked Moroccan meal for their host family Fatima presents Moroccan couscous for host family NACHI host family prepare to enjoy feast prepared for them in appreciation NACHI Spring Fellows in front of the White House Presentations to North Africa Community Health Initiative participants Thomas Johnson, Program Officer, Department of State and Mary
Lasting Impact through Local Projects
This initiative is designed to have an expansive outreach and lasting impact in rural communities in Morocco and Egypt.
- When fellows return to their homes they will share and implement new ideas with their colleagues, positively impacting the capacity of many additional community health care providers, leaders and organizers.
- Fellows will also implement required sustainable health programs at the community level. Legacy offers optional $800 mini-grants to support the design and implementation of these local projects.
- U.S. professionals will offer multiple trainings, consultations, and public information sessions during their trip to Morocco and Egypt.
- The initiative will introduce the use of cell phone technology with Medic Mobile, as a tool to improve health-care related communication and services in outlying areas
- A 30-minute educational video has been created and disseminated on national television (and web broadcasting) in North Africa. (see below)
Partners
The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. As program provider, Legacy has convened six exemplary organizations to collaborate on this initiative:
it is agreat honorary pleasure 4 me if u accept my application 4 this programme as it was my vision that became our mission in Sohag Upper Egypt -The Good SHepheered polly clinic which belongs 2 Sohag Evangelican
N G O -we graduallY pursit volunteery medical outreach 2 surrounding villages 2 serve them 2 improving themselves either ,physically ,psychologically ,socially ,spiritually ,culturally helping them 2 get rid of ancient bad habits as female circumscion ,bad hygine & bad retarded thoughts supporting them with best medical care with christian love who they in lack of
-we accustomed 2 hold our great anual medical conference 4 middle east which will be /12 /2010-about 500 attendants of arabic medical staff ,dentists ,physiotherapists ,pharmacis& nurses ,midwifes so i will talk 2 the attendants about ur mission this fellowship ,iam sure that many will apply ,
-also in my governmental job i will forward 2 many of whome u want 2 aaply of all aspects
so pl write me the conditions of applicants
-the study will be in arabic or E as many of community development in upper egypt prefer A
- do u need full time sharers or how many hours /what -
will u encourage the attendants financially as they have 2 leave some of their important duties 2 serve with ur mission & travel many
-the subjects will be on line – net or what
-IF I COULD encourage many attendants may u choose & train me as alleadership or director of this programme in Egypt
thanks a lot 2 give me ur precious time
peace 2 all & ur soul
dr Selvia s Ebaid ( sally )
pediatrician ,family physcian
clinical director of Good Shepherd polly clinic – Sohag governorate upper Egypt
mobile – oo2 o122811921
this idea is very important that the people is in some village are in the bad situation of health , i write this lettre but i feel what those people feels , because i’m working in the hospital and i teach nursing and i went with a lot of community to help the poor people or the people needs help.
i think the community is one of the best thing to help people in the north of africa, i hope the god help this community to do her work
This program look as a strong approach for technology and experiance transfare from experts and other countries (students from other countries)to our communities. In the same time, visits of American volunteers will be a good chance for experiance exchange and learning by doing at the field level. I am sure it is good opportunity for gaining communication skills which is a key factor in health extension at both rural and slam areas. Hooping all the best.
Please click on to http://www.legacyintl.org/our-programs/north-africa-community-health-initiative/download-application-nachi/ to downlaod an application.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your AMIDEAST representative at
Egypt: AMIDEAST, Nadia Ilahi, nachi-egypt-info@amideast.org
Phone: 19263
Morocco: AMIDEAST, Abdellatif Harraida, nachi-morocco-info@amideast.org
Phone: 212-537-67-50-81
as a health professional so permeated by the activities of community health in rural areas, going to the USA will be for me a great opportunity to enhance my skills to give great support to the rural population in my area.
Dear Leila and Innocentia:
Thank you for all you both did (no doubt in collaboration with others I don’t know) to make the Egypt/Morocco exchange a success. I really enjoyed getting to know Sondus as well as the other people in the group. I thought you picked the participants very well, and they all seemed to be credits to their countries and good participants in international exchange and bridge building. I particularly enjoyed the opportunities to join in some of the group events with Sondus — at the Carilion Wellness talk, at the Coptic Church, at Local Colors Day, at Dr. Boshra’s home and at the wonderful dinner at Schaal’s (delicious). Thank you for the beautiful book. It is truly beautiful, both in terms of food and the pictures of the countries.
All the best to you.
Oh yes, and I learned how to make the foule from Sondus, using the can you gave me. We had a farewell breakfast at IHOP before we went to the bus and I had foule on my IHOP plate. It was good and much healthier than pancakes and syrup.
Peace to you all and thanks,
Liz
(Rev. Elizabeth Mortlock, Pastor, Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, Roanoke, VA )