Health Research
TPM is based on the belief that real change can only come about when people are empowered to be agents in their own lives. The goals of the health team at TPM is to have community volunteers empower themselves to become leaders in their community’s health and to move from approaches based on the unsustainable receipt of charity towards the generation and mobilization of resources from the community. Currently, there are three main areas we are focusing on; health education with the local volunteers, with a focus on empowerment; health promotion; and health interventions within the scope of their practice, with the concept of sustainability in mind.
Community development involves a process of social change. We are working cooperatively with the community health volunteers to determine community needs and addressing common issues affecting their health. Our goal is to establish mutual trust and foster meaningful relationships through health teaching and promotion.
In 2015 the community health volunteers identified four community health/wellness priorities: prevention and effective management of diarrhoea; prevention of malaria; prevention of HIV/AIDS; and prevention and effective management of respiratory complaints. In June 2018, we (nursing professors, nursing students from the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science program in Nursing, Canada, and a nurse practitioner from the UK) worked with the community health volunteers, providing health education on first aid and malaria. In addition, we initiated a meeting between the community health surveillance assistant (HSA) and community health volunteers. The HSA agreed to collaborate with the community health volunteers in procuring resources (from the hospital) for first aid training and other health education/ promotion activities. We hope to continue working with the community health volunteers, their local clinic, and other community partners.
Community development involves a process of social change. We are working cooperatively with the community health volunteers to determine community needs and addressing common issues affecting their health. Our goal is to establish mutual trust and foster meaningful relationships through health teaching and promotion.
In 2015 the community health volunteers identified four community health/wellness priorities: prevention and effective management of diarrhoea; prevention of malaria; prevention of HIV/AIDS; and prevention and effective management of respiratory complaints. In June 2018, we (nursing professors, nursing students from the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science program in Nursing, Canada, and a nurse practitioner from the UK) worked with the community health volunteers, providing health education on first aid and malaria. In addition, we initiated a meeting between the community health surveillance assistant (HSA) and community health volunteers. The HSA agreed to collaborate with the community health volunteers in procuring resources (from the hospital) for first aid training and other health education/ promotion activities. We hope to continue working with the community health volunteers, their local clinic, and other community partners.
