Strengthening the capacity of community stakeholders is a key to successful participation: The case of Kayogoro health committee in Makamba health province, Burundi. By Dr. Georges Nsengiynuva

Although the WHO Constitution (WHO, 1948) states that an informed public opinion and active cooperation from the public is of paramount importance for improving the health of populations, "it is only in the 1970s that the concept of community participation began to attract the attention of health professionals. This was especially true after the Alma Ata conference on primary health care in 1978.  At Alma Ata, it was declared that, "the people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care (Alam Ata 1978).

Health committees are the most traditional form of community participation in health services and their composition is similar in most countries. In Burundi, health committees are largely the heirs of government programs and NGOs that have been in operation since 2000 (Falisse JB, 2010).

In my last blog, I shared the conditions for a successful community participation. This blog details the activities that have been undertaken by our research team to strengthen a health committee at Kayogoro health centre in the health province of Makamba. The reseatch team has been involved in organizing community meetings to discuss key health issues, needs and opinions that are pertinent to the community. So far, the discussions have focused on immunization, family planning, maternity, antenatal and postnatal consultation services among others. Involvement of the communities has been crucial in getting stakeholder views on how best the health facilities could serve their populations.

The health committee meetings are held regularly, atleast once a month. At every meeting, the secretary, who is the head/incharge of the health center records all the ideas, summarizes the main points discussed and the recommendations as well as the follow-up guidelines. Before closure of any meeting, health providers are required to make commitments on the recommendations made.  

References

Falisse JB. Comité de santé et association locales dans les provinces de Bubanza, Makamba, Muramvya, Mwaro, Ngozi et Rutana. Rapport de missions d’études, Bujumbura, 2010

Nsengiyumva G. Succeeding with Community Engagement: What are the Challenges? - See more at: http://www.ktnetafrica.net/blog/succeeding-community-engagement-what-are...