FORGE Health Service

Project Update: Field Project from May 2010

May Update as Reported by FORGE's Project Manager in Meheba:

FORGE Health Services (FHS) has been performing extremely well and consistently meeting and exceeding their outreach and education goals. This month the FHS employees graduated a six week outreach class of 32 students. The employees are looking forward to starting another class soon but are waiting because they are hoping to get some students who are on break from high school.

Malaria Treatments:
As for Malaria testing and treatment, we have received RDTs (Rapid Diagnostic Tests) but are waiting on the shipment of Coartem (drug treatment therapy for acute plasmodium falciparum Malaria) to come as MOH (Ministry of Health) has put in an order but has not yet received it. We are also waiting on CRS (Children’s Rehabilitation Services) to receive supplies to do HIV testing.

Two people came in for counseling and were sent to the D Clinic for HIV testing. The results are unknown but Mary will make a followup.

Using the RDTs we received five people were tested at FHS. Four tested positive for Malaria. They were referred to the community health worker for coartem.

What’s Next:
Child Health Week has been set for July 19 and the Vitamin A distribution will happen at that time. As well CRS has agreed to have a VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV) day at FHS on Friday, June 25th. There will be a camp-wide SKILLS VCT (training instructions on how to provide VCT services) to become a councilor for held by Grassroots Soccer on July 30th at Meheba High School...Read More

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Project Update: Field Report from April 2010

In April Forge Health Services began a six-week workshop in the Meheba Camp. The first class had over 60 people however this number dropped to 36 over the course of the workshop. Those 36 participants are scheduled to graduate in May.

Additionally, Mary was able to provide counseling to two women in need this month. She also helped a community member suffering from TB get the proper tests and medication she needed.

Unfortunately, the Vitamin A distribution has been postponed for the time being. The Forge Health Services staff is working with the Ministry of Health to put together a distribution campaign that will reach all blocks of the Camp in the near future. FHS also plans to begin another workshop in Block C at the Meheba C basic school to continue health services outreach to the community.

-Gretchen Murphy, Citizen Effect Project Development Assistant

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Project Update: Field Report from March 2010

During March, the FORGE Health Service programs:

directly impacted 14.5% of the Meheba Settlement's refugees
provided 99 refugees with field consultations
examined 24 patients who visited FHS headquarters, including 5 children, and provided them all with informational materials
educated 231 refugees who participated in FHS’s March educational health campaigns
distributed approximately 1,700 condoms throughout the camp

New Programs This Month:

Throughout the month, the FORGE Heath Service team worked extensively with the Meheba Settlement’s Community Health Workers. Together, they conducted several remote and local Rapid Diagnostic Tests to determine if community members had been exposed to or infected with malaria. Many of the camp’s residents approached the Heath Services staff for counseling; every patient was properly assessed and when necessary, referred to the Meheba Clinic for additional care.

In addition, two of the FORGE Health Service staff, Mary and Given, opened a new outreach post in Road 28, an isolated portion of the refugee camp...Read more!

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Congrats to Hank & Erin— Funds have been trasferred to FORGE to start your project!

Congratulations to Hank and Erin for fully funding your Meheba FORGE Health Services project!

Citizen Effect has transfered the project funds to FORGE, our field partner in Zambia, to start your project. The $2,808 you've raised will support the 1-year operations of the FORGE Health Services program from April 2010 – April 2011. Please check back for updates from Meheba on the progress and work of FORGE Health Services!

–May Yu
Citizen Effect Project Manager

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New Photo Galleries Ready to View!

Greetings from Citizen Effect. Great News! There are two new photo galleries available to view. The first gallery follows a mother and child during a visit to the health clinic. The second gallery features pictures of the medical staff at the health clinic inside the Meheba Refugee Settlement. Scroll down to the media gallery below, click on the photos, and enjoy!

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Hank and Erin's FORGE Health Service Project Video

Watch Hank and Erin's FORGE Health Service Video!

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Starting a Print

I've been thinking long and hard about what this print I've promised to those of you who contribute $50 or more to Hank and my project will look like. I've decided on a woodcut print and worked on some sketches last weekend. I think it will end up with an image that is roughly like this:

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Hank and Erin Become Citizen Philanthropists

In the true holiday spirit, we have decided to take on a project with Citizen Effect to help a community in need. While we don't have to worry about our basic needs there are many displaced people in southern Africa for whom access to health care, education, and shelter are a daily struggle. We decided to take on this project because we have been fortunate to have so many opportunities afforded to us throughout our lives and feel compelled to give back.

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