(Note - This blog was written by Anthony, the refugee Project Facilitator for this project. As English is not his first language, there may be some minor grammatical errors in his writing. Care was taken to clarify any passages that were confusing, while leaving most of the blog untouched in order to preserve Anthony's original tone.)
Block “G” my resident area is one of the remotest communities of Meheba Refugee Settlement. This community has been going through various life challenges among them prominent being health problems.
During the need assessment through which FORGE usually finds it essential tool to sort out the problem faced by such and such a community so as to help address; it proved that the community lacks access to health services. This is so because of a long time the community has pulled through in absence of any kind of clinical services. The findings showed clearly that the population of all ages and classes suffered pain of lack of medical services since 2003 due to a sudden close down of the clinic. The clinic closing down was as a result of the failure of UNHCR and other organizations in support of the clinic like AAR and LWF to satisfy government’s expectation of the plan and progress of the clinic.
Upon receiving the good news from FORGE about being helped after the assessments of the need, the community freely chose seven Block Representatives (BRs) to help FORGE Management carry out the assessment. This was Stage I of the Collaborative Project Planning (CPP). Block Representatives among whom I belonged responded positively and voluntarily took responsibilities in Stage II where we walked through road 77-105 asking questions to all classes – youth, men and women, old and vulnerables. We didn’t have either problems with the rest of the community or between ourselves as BRs. We therefore found our work to be easy especially that the answers that they gave us were common. This clearly showed us the prominent need the community has.
It is from this stage’s experience that I was trusted and chosen by the community and my groupmates of BRs to proceed to the next stage - Stage III as a Project Facilitator (PF) so as to work together with FORGE Managers to work on the project proposal.
As a PF I feel supported, trusted and responsible for the development of this project. I therefore promise both FORGE and my community all the requested possible serves and commitment. In this regard I would like FORGE to feel to finding a conductive environment to work from and a cooperative community, and my community to feel represented.
With the provision of REFUGEE HEALTH SERVICE as the name suggestion this community, will enable patients who can’t make it to the nearest clinic get basic medicines; a good number of pregnant women and those pertaining to deliver get assisted by a group of trained midwives; and all children will access all possible care that they need. The total of 2200 population will benefit through transferal and consultation in addition to health monthly. We will therefore have achieved our goal to have a large stranded community growing, with a vision of seeing everyone well and healthy. I indeed thank FORGE in the name of the community to have generously made it to take this challenging task.
I thank you.