Finding office premises and a health centre for the project has been a daunting task especially when a central location is necessary to make the service easily accessible to our prospective clients. The search for the centre was started upon arrival.
Most of the places I visit where not suitable or too expensive for our project, but fortunately Burao Health Authority recognising the importance of this project, have given us their MCH(Health Centre) to be used as our Barako Health Care Centre. In the mean time while the Centre is being refurbished, Agricultural Development Agency has offered us office space, which we have gladly accepted.
The Health Centre consists of the following:
- Administration Block
- Classrooms for literacy and FGM workshops
- Counselling rooms
- Rooms for Paediatric and gynaecological treatments
- Immunisation rooms
- A Pharmacy
In order to sustain it self financially, the centre will charge its clients a small fee, which is considerably less than they pay at private clinics. Although the majority of the population has very low income or no income at all, almost all of the organisations we have consulted about the matter recognised that subsidised treatments and subscriptions are a major help to wards enabling people to access health care.
|
The main roles and responsibilities of our local partner organisations will be the entire management of the project at the local level including employment of staff, monitoring and evaluation of the project as outlined in the project's work plan. In pursuit of suitable and willing partners not less than 30 local NGO's were contacted, but only 7 have so far been selected.
These are:
1. Candle light
2. The Agricultural Development Organisation
3. Ayaan Badan Women's Association
4. The Somali Development Association
5. Liiban Women's Association
6. Sehane Association
7. Liiban Women's Orphanage Association
These organisations all work with women and children and are well established. The above seven have agreed to work with us in different areas and will get involved in being part of our projects Implementation Team and/or part of the projects Steering Committee.
We will also benefit from their experience as field workers. On the other hand Barako will provide training on management skills and health issues regarding female genital mutilation and education. We will however include all 30 organisations in our circulation list so that we keep them informed about all aspects of our campaign against FGM and related health issues. We will engage them in other activities according to their need and specialities.
|
