PATHS Final programme report: "Togetherness in Health" the Enugu ...

With the advent of the DHS it was agreed that one NGO would be attached to each District andwould work consistently with that District. On the whole, this arrangement worked well and a strongrelationship was established between the NGOs and the DHAs, and between the NGOs and the CBOsthey supported.The most extensive training provided to NGOs and CBOs focused on the Better Health Kit and CBOmanual. The Better Health Kit dealt with specific common conditions, offering information and simpleremedies that facility staff could use, all targeted at contributing to the achievement of the MillenniumDevelopment Goals 4 and 5. The CBO manual outlined effective community mobilization strategies,skills and techniques.In preparation for the roll-out of these trainings, six representatives from six NGOs were selectedand trained as master trainers in Abuja. The NGO trainers came back to Enugu and trained 21 NGOrepresentatives from seven Enugu-based NGOs. These individuals became master trainers who wereresponsible for cascading the training down to CBOs and facility staff. More than 600 CBOs weretrained in the use of the CBO manual, while 372 CBOs and 124 facility staff were trained in the use ofboth the CBO manual and the Better Health Kit.Even though PATHS Enugu worked primarily with seven NGOs, another five NGOs benefited fromextensive capacity building support in the following areas: communication skills, mobilization andengagement strategies, report writing, TB/DOTS campaign strategies and IPCC. One of the maindifficulties, however, was the rapid turnover of NGO staff.Q. Have you ever heard of communitymobilizers who talk on health issues?How did you know about them?A. Yes. I got to know about them whenthey demonstrated how to preparesalt sugar solution to the villagers. Itried using it and it worked.Q. Did they teach you about Malaria?A. They did. They taught us to clear thebushes around us and to throw awayempty cans that can trap water.Igweze Ikoma Umuueze, Okoma communityEunice Ani, Umoalor communityCommunity Mobilisationefforts60 PATHS Final Programme Report