Philosophy

The foundation for our programs is participatory research (PR) conducted by community health workers (CHWs) and local leaders. PR empowers people from the beginning, positioning them as “the experts” from the start. This increases self-esteem, self-confidence, women’s status, and prepares and uplifts the leaders of tomorrow.

Volunteer community health workers are the key to HealthEd Connect’s success. CHWs are equipped with knowledge in World Health Organization endorsed primary health care areas:

  • Nutrition

  • Immunizations

  • Oral Rehydration Therapy

  • Under-five Monitoring

  • Sanitation

  • Basic First Aid

  • Prenatal Care

Community health workers are support for the journey from birth to adulthood. CHWs monitor pregnant women and become Traditional Birth Attendants, welcoming healthy babies into the world. They provide monthly baby weighing clinics while teaching mothers the essentials of child care, and carry children to hospitals when no one else is able. These volunteers are the ones making house calls, providing home-based care when parents are ill or dying from AIDS. They help connect sick community members with medical help, and students with local schools. Our community health workers are passionate advocates for these women and children in need.

CHW advocates are desperately needed amidst the staggering numbers of AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. CHWs trained over 35 years ago by Dr. Sherri Kirkpatrick were some of the first to elevate the plight of the orphans and their caregivers. Though it was identified that elderly caregivers needed marketable skills to support their young grandchildren, a community survey indicated the most pressing need was education for the children. Since then, HealthEd Connect has supported this need with the establishment of 3 schools. Though many people have sought to assist the orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) by founding orphanages, we do not support these, as children lose what little family connection they might have left. Instead, we support programs that strengthen the community and caregivers so the children can remain with their extended families and receive the best opportunities possible.

HealthEd Connect is the facilitator that helps bring to light the capabilities, dreams, and hopes that already exist. As one of our good friends in Zambia said, “We have the passion. We just don’t know how to package it.” HealthEd Connect is that connection between this passion and the package.