Regaining the People’s Trust in the Health System: What Will It Take?

Community engagement helped turn the tide of Ebola, and will be critical in combatting this latest outbreak.

This is no secret. Getting trusted community members, religious leaders, and local media on board increased adoption of difficult, often alien preventive behaviors like safe burials, which ultimately helped stop the spread of the disease.

But there’s a broader lesson here. If we are to prevent future epidemics, communities need to remain actively engaged in efforts to strengthen the health sector.

This is not to say we don’t also need to look at quality. We do. We need more trained health workers and doctors. We need more clinics in very remote areas. We need better water infrastructure and latrines.

All of these things are critical for health gains, just as treatment centers and medical staff on the ground were fundamental to the Ebola response. But success will only be achieved if we also take the time to strengthen relationships at the community level, which means improving communications with clinics and health personnel.

When Ebola first came to Liberia, people resisted the information they received from the health community. Many denied the existence of Ebola or thought it was a plot or a curse. Had a trusting relationship with communities existed, it would have been much easier to share crucial prevention messages, which could have saved thousands of lives.

This is why, through the second phase of the Ebola Community Action Platform, also known as ECAP 2, Mercy Corps and its partners, including the Ministry of Health, have focused on training and mentoring local Community Health Committees.

In addition to doing health campaigns, these groups meet regularly with clinic staff and health workers and provide feedback from the community. Their role is to strengthen accountability while also building local ownership, dialogue, and demand for viable health services.

see more at: http://www.bushchicken.com/op-ed-regaining-the-peoples-trust-in-the-health-system-what-will-it-take/