Five years of remarkable progress

After only five years of working in Liberia, Curamericas Global’s Nehnwaa Child Survival Project was able to reduce under-five child mortality in the area by 63%. At an outstandingly low project cost of $3.70 per beneficiary per year, Curamericas Global addressed the principal causes of child and maternal death. Progress is being made by providing direct services and education in areas such as maternal and newborn care. Thus,proper immunization, HIV education and treatment, and water and sanitation improvements are part of the services we offer. Curamericas Global’s success is due to its utilization of a community-based impact-oriented care group methodology that engages, educates, and utilizes community members to build local partnerships and produce measurable results.

Partnerships with USAID and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Funded by USAID and the Ronald McDonald House Charities, one aspect of Curamericas Global’s health program is the Train-the-Trainer model. This model spreads education to the household level, reaching the highest need community members in a low-cost and sustainable way. Master Trainers educate Community Health Volunteers, who in turn disseminate their knowledge throughout target communities and populations.

The ripple effect of Master Trainers

An integral part of Curamericas Global’s programs involves training Master Trainers. They in turn educate Community Health Volunteers, who in turn disseminate their knowledge throughout target communities and populations. It is evident in their work that locals possess a passion for the health and well being of their communities. Curamericas Global had the invaluable opportunity to speak with one them. Delphine is a master trainer who has worked with Curamericas Global on the Nehnwaa Child Survival Project in Liberia.

Delphine’s Story

After graduating from Cuttington University in Liberia as a nurse, Delphine began working in a pediatric ward. Due to a shortage of nurses, Delphine provided care for many patients. Sometimes she watches over the entire ward for shifts at a time. After almost three years in the pediatric ward, Delphine was transferred to the surgical ward, where her excellence in medical care and hard work earned her a position with Curamericas Global as an Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) Supervisor.

Providing services to remote communities

After working in a hospital environment for several years, Delphine found herself “in a completely different area” as an IMNCI Supervisor. The new role comes with more priorities and new considerations, but Delphine took the challenge head on. Delphine says”health workers go to the communities at the time scheduled by the community dwellers…because if [they] do not go on time as scheduled they will not meet their goal.” Rather than waiting in a hospital for the patients to arrive, Delphine traveled to remote communities to deliver medical services and educational health messages to those who do not have access to health care.

Taking into account community needs

For Delphine, taking into account the needs of the community dwellers was extremely important, not only in terms of respecting time, but “respecting culture norms, respecting the view of others, being very careful how they dress, knowing how to relate to people, and speaking the local dialect or having a translator.” With these cultural considerations in mind, Delphine began educating communities on “exclusive breast feeding, diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, quick referral, the importance of sleeping under a mosquito net, and cleaning their surroundings.”

Delphine prides working with Curamericas

Delphine’s work in both the hospitals and with Curamericas Global has made her proud to help Liberian children. She says, “I pray to help improve the health care delivery system in my country through community-based health, reaching the unreachable communities and working along with pregnant women, women of reproductive age, under five children and giving care to the sick.”

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Authors: Cheyenne Cheung, Curamericas Global Intern

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