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Christmas news, December 09

24 Dec 2009  Nick Henwood 
1) Ted attends Louisville Conference. 2) Nick attends CIFA / WHO conference. 3) Scam alert. 4) Santa – a public health hazard?!

1. Louisville conference, November 2009

Ted Lankester attended and spoke at a gathering of over 2000 health professionals in Kentucky USA to look at ways in which faith based organisations can become involved in global health, in particular through community health programmes. Delegates mentioned that nearly every community in the world has a church, mosque or temple so this is the ideal community organisation to help promote compassionate inclusive health care especially for the most vulnerable. And being a group of people often with a small building there is a sense of ownership by many or most in the community. The one thing we have to be careful about is that all community members regardless of faith have equal rights, access to care and participation.

At about the same time a survey published by the UK's department of international development (DfID) found that 82% of respondents living in sub Saharan Africa preferred to work with faith based agencies than with non-faith groups.

2. CIFA / WHO conference, November 2009

Last month CIFA (Centre for Inter Faith Action) co-hosted a consultation at the World Health Organization in Geneva.

Nick Henwood represented CHGN members at this event, which focused on establishing Mapping Standards to describe Religious Health Assets.

60 representatives from the world of faith-based organizations, academia, geography and government attended. The meeting focused on methods of facility mapping and its importance.

If a health facility has not been mapped, there is little awareness of its physical existence or the services it offers. WHO Representative Ted Karpf emphasized the importance of facility mapping for funding and accessibility purposes, saying that if you're not on the map, you won’t get invited to the table… This shaped the conversation, as participants were able to share best practice methods and challenges regarding facility mapping.

Another element that emerged from the consultation is a working group that will look at how community-based health programmes – for example those organised by individuals or churches can also be included in mapping exercises.

3. SCAM Alert

Please continue to take care as you read your email. With huge regret we report that criminals continue to use the identity of Community Health Global Network in order to extort money from people through emails. Please note well that we will NEVER send emails promising you job or other opportunities that require you to send money to us in advance.

And now from the serious to the silly…

4. STOP PRESS – Santa is a public health hazard!

Beware – Santa promotes drinking and driving, and obesity! In a tongue-in-cheek article in this week’s British Medical Journal, Nathan Grills (Community Health Global Network core team member) points out that Santa should perhaps clean up his act to encourage healthier living…

See http://dx.doi.org//10.1136/bmj.b5261

-------------------

Happy Christmas from the Community Health Global Network team! Whatever your own faith, may you know God’s Love, Joy and Peace this Christmas time…

With thanks and best wishes for 2010

The CHGN Team

Ted Lankester, Nick Henwood & Zannah Jeffreys
 
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Newsletters Sent to all members
Networking for beginners… “Learning from each other” (July 2010 newsletter)
Nick Henwood facilitated a workshop at the ‘Christian Connections for International Health’ conference, in June 2010. Here is his summary…
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1. What is the X factor? 2. Transformation in Bangladesh 3. New Cluster of Community Health Projects in Kenya 4. Website Update
Christmas news, December 09
1) Ted attends Louisville Conference. 2) Nick attends CIFA / WHO conference. 3) Scam alert. 4) Santa – a public health hazard?!
Mapping health programmes... and other issues... (October 2009 Newsletter)
1. CHGN Update 2. WHO and CIFA Mapping exercise 3. Scam alert 4. Valuable Resource
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Roles of Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) in promoting community health care.
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Community Transformation
Greetings! I have just returned from India where I was encouraged by stories of Community Transformation at Jamkhed and Asha.

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