Mentawai CBHP

Goal
To significantly improve the health and wellbeing of the Mentawai people.

Situation
The Mentawai (Men-ta-why) Islands, with a population of 70,000 people, are situated 150km to the west of Sumatra, Indonesia. The serious isolation of the Mentawai Islands has led to some significant community health issues, and there is limited capacity in the Mentawai Health Department to address these issues. In general, the Mentawai people have poor nutrition and suffer from a high prevalence of treatable diseases, accompanied by low levels of understanding of their causes.

Overview
The program has been established to implement deep and lasting changes in how communities and vulnerable individuals collectively manage health issues in areas where basic health services are extremely limited, or non-existent. The health situation is critical, as assessed in 2007 by SurfAid through a baseline KAP (knowledge, attitudes, practices) survey. The results include:

• child mortality (under five years of age) of 93 per 1,000 live births;
• infant mortality (under one year) of 49 per 1,000 live births;
• malnourishment in children under five years of 41%;
• anaemia in pregnant women of 65.9%.

The first phase of health related activity in Mentawai focused on malaria, through the Mentawai Core Health Program (which was renamed the Mentawai Community Based Health Program). The project targeted 23 communities spread throughout the individual islands, using the Care Group model, and care group volunteers, as the means of disseminating training and supporting implementation and adoption of new health practices. The community health component of this project implemented a series of activities intended to promote an understanding, at community level, of how health can be improved through behaviour modification.

Nias CBHP

Goal
To improve the health of vulnerable persons in SurfAid target areas along the coastal areas of Nias Island and reduce mortality in children under five years of age by improving clean water availability, hygiene, sanitation, malaria reduction, nutrition, and improved health services.

Objectives:

• To facilitate the improvement of water provision and sanitation damaged in the March 05 earthquake and to improve hygiene and sanitation practices in SurfAid target areas
• To improve the immunization and nutritional status of children under five years old
• To reduce the incidence of malaria in SurfAid target areas
• To decrease morbidity and mortality due to acute respiratory infections (ARI) and diarrhea in children under five years old
• Increase the capacity of health centers to provide service in SurfAid target areas

Coverage Area
Total villages:  31

Total population:  30,149

About the Nias Program
SurfAid has transitioned into a long term strategy to support the health and well being of Nias community members. Activities are focused on the implementation of a new highly successful model used in Mozambique and Cambodia based on community participation and education. Health issues addressed over the life of the project include malaria, immunization, hygiene and sanitation and diarrhea and respiratory infection. As in other areas, SurfAid activities involve a high level of collaboration and capacity building with the health department, local health care providers and community members.