Community mobilization

Community Mobilization is very important in achieving the noble goal of healthcare approach system tags, “prevention is better than cure”

1. COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION By Saleh Ahmed 7 th March, 2018

2. Introduction Community mobilization is one of fundamental concepts of primary health care which requires participation of people living in a community. is very important in achieving the noble goal of healthcare approach system tags, “prevention is better than cure” is good tool for nurses/midwives for helping community to address health related problems

3. - It involves bringing together all resources in the community for the purpose of addressing numerous health related problem confronting people confined in a geographical area is a concept to be imbibe in order to provide quality health care services to the public in 21 st century.

4. Learning objectives At the end of this presentation participants should be able to Define community mobilization Describe the importance of community mobilization in PHC Outline the steps involved in community mobilization Describe advocacy in community mobilization State the composition and function of development committees  

5. community Community is a term derived from common in unity- . it deals with group of people in an area having something in common to share. is defined as a group of individual who are dependent on each other and are bound in time and space (Sridhar Rao, 2009 ). it involves sharing of values and norms.

6. T he common things they share The common things they share are; religion, tribe, education, culture, profession, occupation, environment (healthy environment) and resources

7. Mobilization it is making people and resources ready to move or act. According to Online Cambridge Dictionary - is to bring or to prepare something such as group of people for a purpose. Oxford dictionary defined it as the action of organizing and encouraging a group of people to take collective action in pursuit of a particular objective. It is an action of bringing resources into use for a particular purpose. Medical dictionary – defined it as assembling or preparation of something in response to a need . It involves organizing people to act together for the purpose addressing health related problems in a community.

8. Community mobilization it is an act of bringing human and non-human resources for a purpose. It is bringing people together to pursue common interests by creating a sense of unity, ownership and self-control. Tope- Ajayi (2004) viewed community mobilization as a means of encouraging , influencing and arousing interest of people to make them actively involved in finding solutions to some of their own problems.

9. - For this, It is the process of getting people to overcome their differences, to begin a dialogue on an equal basis to determine issues that affect their community . Community mobilization is goal oriented act or exercise . It facilitates the implementation of research, critical thinking and evidenced based practice as well as community participation. It is an indispensable concept in Primary healthcare system globally and Nigeria.

10. What type of community do we have? The typical community in Nigeria is a community that is having problem of resources and facilities required for essential healthcare. This imposes problems that are contributing greatly to prevailing health problem in both urban and rural communities . In fact, we (Nurses/Midwives) are practicing community with numerous problems such as;

11. - . Lack of food supply and nutrition Lack of adequate clean water and basic sanitation Lack of adequate maternal and child health including family planning services Problem of immunization Lack of adequate preventive and controlled measures for locally endemic diseases Lack of qualified healthcare providers

12. Yes, is a community of Inappropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries Lack of essential drugs Lack of adequate viable healthcare facilities Lack of cohesion and organization Lack of roads, and electricity Social Malaise – hunger, poverty, discrimination, Illiteracy, insecurity, and Lack of political will Erroneous Belief that the political leaders and bureaucrats will alleviate their problems but always disappointed and neglected by their elected political leaders.

13. ooooooooooooooooooooh This calls for community mobilization Where will interact and arrive at solutions to those affecting health of the people in our community

14. The importance of community mobilization primary Healthcare and nursing practice It is important because it involves bringing people together for the purpose of -assisting them to become aware of their - problems , assessing and identifying their felt needs participating in addressing identified health problems Ensuring quality healthcare is provided to public.

15. - it helps in meeting the main goals of PHC and core responsibilities of a nurse namely; Health promotion Diseases prevention Alleviation of suffering Restoration of health via appropriate, screening, Treatment and Rehabilitation Policy development, planning, evaluation and advocacy

16. Roles of community mobilization to PHC . Identify and define their health problems and needs Plan how to proffer solutions to these problems with their resources and support from healthcare providers Promote effective interaction among individuals in the community Foster or encourage reliance in PHC Promote increased community members awareness and rights to healthcare Facilitates changes in health behavior and increase access to information and services for those who need them Mobilize the required human and material resources in order to achieve the set objectives Utilize the health facilities provided .

17. Steps for community mobilization The steps are grouped into 3 categories as follows; Fact findings Planning Implementation and evaluation

18. The specific steps are Getting to know the community, provide information & create interest Analysis, this involves Identification of resources, Problem identification, Identification solutions & projects Decision making &selection of leaders by community Identification stakeholders Planning & selection of implementing leaders Project implementation by community Follow -up & monitoring Evaluation

19. Skills for community mobilization mobilization acronyms can be used; M- Maintain a sense of humour , and be patient, O- Open your mind and heart and you will receive on open warm welcome; B- Build upon the positive aspects of the local culture, religion, knowledge, and tradition; brick by brick, work with the people to build up their lives with dignity and honour . I-Initiate but do not lead. You are a catalyst of inspiring development activities; and not the boss. L- Learn from the men and women: the whats the whys, the whens and the hows of their situation and poverty. I-Identify the people’s needs; or rather facilitate them to identify their need. Remember awareness raising is the first step towards mobilization.

20. - S- Sit together, share ideas and experiences A-Avoid talking in terms of money: rather talk in terms of working together. Don’t be authoritative, and don’t talk big. T-Talk simply- do not use complex language; your task is to communicate effectively. I-Involve the community from the very beginning; don’t start a project, and then start to bring in community participation mid-way through. O- Organize the people to draw up their own plans for their development N-Never assume that you are right and they are wrong; in most cases you will discover that they are in fact right but you had failed to listen!

21. People involved in the community mobilization are Political leaders Traditional leaders Religious leaders Opinion leaders School teachers NGOs Health workers TBAs

22. Advocacy in community mobilization For effective community mobilization advocacy is required in order to give optimal public support for policy toward addressing identified health problems in the community. Then what is advocacy? Advocacy is a set of actions undertaken by a group of individuals or organizations working in partnership to build consensus, gain support or create a favourable environment for introducing or changing specific strategies, programmes , laws or policies (N&MCN Module 2, n.d ). in fact, in is an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic and social systems(Wikipedia.org).

23. Steps in advocacy process Proper understanding of subject matter for which advocacy is done Identify and clarify issue- why advocacy is needed and expected result Build partnership Select audiences i.e. beneficiaries, partner, decision makers and adversaries Develop messages centered on goal Determine communication channel Prepare carefully for meetings Monitor and evaluate

24. Composition of PHC committees What is PHC Committee ? PHC committees are known as PHC development committee. These committees are to be used for effective community mobilization and advocacy This is because they formed to support the effective delivery of PHC .

25. Types of PHC development committees Health facility development committee Village PHC development committee District level committee L.G.A level committee

26. Health facility development committee composition - representative of the staff of the facility representative of religious group representatives of occupational group/association Representatives of NGOs Head of secondary or higher school Representative of formal leaders

27. Function Monitor and evaluate impact of PHC services on the health status of the community Liaise with other official living in the community Plan for health and welfare of the community Supervise PHC delivery services in the facility Provide adequate support to volunteer village health worker/TBAs Forward facility health plan

28. Village PHC development committee composition Village head – Chairman Primary Headmaster - Secretary Representatives of religious groups Representatives of Association Representatives of NGOs

29. Function To plan for health and welfare of the community To set achievable local health targets Supervise the implementation of developed health plan in the village To monitor and evaluate the progress of PHC activities in the community Select appropriate persons within the community for training as TBAs Supervise activities of VVHWs Mobilize community member for health action Remunerate VVHWs in cash or in kind Forward local health plan

30. District development committee composition District head - Chairman All village heads within the district Heads of all tertiary institutions within the district Heads of all associations in the district HQs District health supervisor District Agricultural Officer District development officer eg social & welfare officers Representatives of religious groups Representatives of NGOs Representatives of Police and security service

31. Functions Identify health and health-related needs in the district Identify local human and material resources in order to meet those health needs Mobilize and stimulate active participation of community members in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of PHC programmes Source or raise fund for community health project when necessary Liaise with government and other voluntary agencies in finding solutions to health and other related problems in the district Monitor activities at both health facility and and village level Forward all health plans of village facility and district levels to LGA authority

32. LGA PHC management committee composition L GA Chairman - Chairman Supervisory councilor for health LGA PHC Director/Coordinator (Secretary) LGA Secretary Coordinator of CHO training programme (where applicable) District head(s) within the LGA Heads of other departments in the LGA Representatives of religious groups Representative of NGOs Representatives of the International Health Organizations in the LGA (where applicable)

33. Function To provide overall directions for PHC To plan and manage PHC services in the LGA To identify training needs of health workers and send them for training To mobilize communities for effective participation in PHC To supervise the activities of LGA PHC Coordinator

34. Conclusion All of us here are living and practicing in various communitie s We share so many things in common We know and indeed deeply concern with health related problem in the community We are desirous and eager to help Why can we mobilize and advocate for our communities? The answer is

35. - Thank you for listening