Re-thinking Health: Making health a mission priority for Anglican Alliance and

its regions.

Emmanuel Olatunji, Africa Facilitator for Anglican Alliance at the Asia

Consultation, Kowloon- Hong Kong 13th – 18th, November, 2011.

Context of the PresentationWhat the presentation is about (Objectives):• To provide us with a general ideas, guide for setting health priority (s) for our regions and Anglican

Alliance.• A reminder of our mission as Christians and agent of compassionate ministries to congregations

and marginalize communities.• Experience sharing and learning

What the presentation is NOT• Not a prescription of what to go and do.• Not exhaustive of health priority• Exhaustive on all health issues (leaving room for emerging trends& regional context) • What the presentation could be:• A general guide and framework for developing regional and global health strategy within the

Anglican Alliance by 18th November, 2011.• An invitation for deeper reflection, dialogue and discussions as regions• A resource material for future work

Structure of the presentation

• Overview of health issues in general• Identifiable gaps• Suggested health models • Suggested areas for priority (7 pillars)• Strategic reflection guides and questions

Introduction

• “The thief [ill-health, pain and poverty] comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy [death from preventable illnesses, lack of medications and capacities]. I [Alliance] have come in order that they may have life [health] and have it in [all] fullness” John 10:10.

Understanding of health

• Essential for human development and wellbeing.

• Socio-economic aspect (productivity and reproduction).

• Social cohesion.• WHO definition of health (Spiritual aspect and

our core values)

Making health work!

The gaps and challenges

Lack of Access to facilities and commodities

Affordability issues (Cost and lack of

purchasing ability

Bad governance and corruption

Skill Migration

Burden of diseases and infections

Global agenda and dynamics

Global and Regional

Health Gaps

The people

Strategic Reflection Guides (SRG):• Why do poor individuals and families continue to be

denied their right to healthcare in your country/region? • How then can we as people of faith (Anglicans)

accompany these families to attain better health?• What mechanisms are there for strengthening health

partnerships? • What is God calling us to do for the hurting communities? • What resources is there within and outside for us to do

that which we feel called to do? • Where shall we start from and when?

Re-thinking our health priority

• Our Comparative advantage• Our structures and social networks• The opportunity out there• Successful model cases - Umoja, Hands on

health, S.A.V.E etc

Key recommendation Model• The Primary Health Care (PHC): This model prioritises affordable and accessible

healthcare for individuals and families in a manner that can be sustained at every point of their development and need. PHC is also person centred, value-led and locally conditioned and promote health seeking behaviour.

- Focusing on item 3 “Includes at least: education concerning prevailing health problems and the methods of preventing and controlling them; promotion of food supply and proper nutrition; an adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation; maternal and child health care, including family planning; immunization against the major infectious diseases; prevention and control of locally endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; and provision of essential drugs;

• Implementation mechanism – The 7 Pillars.

A decent and dignified PHC

The 7 Pillars

Leadership and Advocacy

Partnership and Networking

Community and Congregational

Mobilization

Mapping and Documentation

Capacity Strengthening

Resource mobilization

Clinical Care model

In conclusion

The Charge

• Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers [and sisters] whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”.

Workshop QuestionsConsidering the 7 proposed pillars for action:

• Which of these is the Alliance best placed to take forward given its niche within the Communion and globally?

• Which of these is the Asia region best placed to implement? (it may not all or any of these pillars)

• What is it that we want to around health in promoting global learning (south – to- south)? Are there best practices or health models that have worked and need to be shared?

• What implementation approaches should we take; do we want integrate, mainstream of have a stand-alone health agenda?

• The answers to these questions will enable the Alliance to develop a strategic framework and policy that will guide our intended health priority and mission to the poor.

Thank you