Organisations will need to provide a basic, affordable service to poor people, using innovative 'insurance' and 'hardship' schemes combined with higher quality private patient care for those who can afford are desperately needed. Community services 'Outreach' clinics of vaccinators and other nurses who screen and treat at community sites have been very effective. Sadly outreach has become more difficult recently in many countries as a result of government cutbacks and immunisation coverage rates are dropping. High levels of poverty and international debt repayment 'strangle' health services as they wish to expand. Ironically, there is now more opportunity for UK doctors to serve in Christian hospitals than ever before.
More patients come, income increases and essential outreach services can be paid for.
The most effective programmes involve an integrated approach in which committed individuals and groups within a community agree to work together on a programme of activities that they have agreed on themselves rather than had imposed on them from government or external agency. These groups develop a clear understanding of what they can achieve by themselves and become effective advocates in their interaction with different government and NGO groups. Successful programmes enthuse a wide range of people with different skills, such as agriculture, water supplies, small business enterprises, farmers, mothers groups, Child to Child groups and schoolchildren. UK health professionals can play key roles in these new Church based multi-disciplinary teams. Children at Risk Many children are exposed to a variety of risks which maim them physically or emotionally.