One thing that was really impressed upon me this week was the existence of problem-solving techniques that foster holistic development. The vitamin A distribution model by female community health volunteers was very eye-opening to me. The ability to improve the physical health of a community while at the same time empowering women and achieving community ownership is inspiring and has caused me to think about what other kinds of programs could work towards this as well. I think it is easy to get focused on one area of development, but encompassing a variety of issues in one project is a much better way to help communities progress more quickly.
However, this model only works if there is some kind of quality healthcare in the area. Volunteer health workers are absolutely not a substitute for qualified doctors and nurses, and it is appalling how many people worldwide have limited or no access to these services, especially indigenous communities. It was heartbreaking to read about communicable diseases that could easily be treated and eradicated if only people had accessed to trained doctors and medication. Instead, these diseases have a far greater impact than they should, causing compromised health, economic hardship, and even death. The scope of this problem is huge, and it needs to be a focus of development professionals.
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