North African Community Health Initiative
The North African Community Health Initiative provides community health care professionals from Morocco and Egypt a new set of tools, resources, and knowledge to enhance rural health care in their respective communities. In particular, this program builds the capacity of professionals who serve marginalized populations, particularly women and children. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs.
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 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, educators, and NGO or charity group workers who focus their “lens” on health issues.
- Two groups of participants from Morocco and Egypt traveled to the U.S. in 2011 for the initial phase of the program. See profiles of Participants from Morocco and Egypt and descriptions of their Follow On Projects
- Later, U.S. professionals within the health care sector travel to Morocco and Egypt.
Enjoy the Slideshow! – NACHI Participants from Morocco and Egypt in the U.S.
NACHI Fellows meet with Legacy's President, J.E. Rash Ahmed (Egypt) and Mary (Egypt) prepare for the day'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.
- Upon return to their homes, the fellows share and implement new ideas with their colleagues, positively impacting the capacity of many additional community health care providers, leaders and organizers.
- Fellows also implement sustainable health programs at the community level. Legacy offered mini-grants to support the design and implementation of these local projects.
- U.S. professionals have offered multiple trainings, consultations, and public information sessions during their trip to Morocco and Egypt.
- A 30-minute educational video has been created and disseminated on national television (and web broadcasting) in North Africa. (see below in English, and Arabic version at bottom of page)
Partners: As program provider, Legacy has convened exemplary organizations to collaborate on this initiative:
Arabic Version of Living the Oath video :
Thank you for your interest in Legacy’s programs in Morocco. We are not currently recruiting new health professional fellows, but please stay in touch as there may be more opportunities in the future.
Salam,
I learned about the North African Community Health Initiative and i’m very interested in participating in the formation programs.
I’m 27 years old, a general practitioner with a PHD from the faculty of medecine of Marrakesh.
I’ve already participated in many social and voluntary activities that’s why i perceive your program as a great opportunity for meto enhance my social and health care skills.
Please tell me how can i adhere with you.
Thank you.
[...] better community health practices. The workshop includes the real life examples of alumni from Legacy’s Community Health Initiative (CHI) in North Africa. CHI at GYV includes a dynamic array of guest speakers from the [...]
Thank you for your comment. We will be posting project updates soon.
I enjoyed reading about this project and seeing the slide show. I hope you will update this website in the future to report on the work of the participants. I would like to hear how the program helped them. Thanks.
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 )
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.
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
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