The Ministry of Health in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, with funding from African Relief and Development Foundation (ARDF), on Tuesday launched the Boma Health Initiative (BHI) in Aweil South County.
BHI was established in 2009 and supports the accountability of the healthcare system by providing regular and detailed information to the community, government, and healthcare professionals.
It involves administering treatment to children aged 3-59 months at the areas where there are no health centers.
At least 80 community health workers have been trained to treat children with malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea diseases, and to screen malnutrition cases.
Speaking to Akol Yam FM during the launch on Tuesday, BHI Project coordinator at the AARDF in Aweil South County said the initiative would help the public during the rainy season.
Jogn Dut Piol says it is aimed at increasing access to integrated child health care services at the grassroots level.
“I appeal to the people of Aweil South to work with the BHI workers to provide good health services or treatment to their children, because most areas lack hospitals and no road network to go to faraway health centers to get treatment,” Dut stated.
One of BHI workers, Veronica Awit, vowed to work hard to treat any child affected by the common diseases there. Besides, she urged the government to extend BHI program, saying that it has impact to the rural communities,
“I will work with the community to ensure that their children are rescued from diseases because they have no health centers to go to in a short time possible to get treatment,” Awit said.
Last week, the Malaria Consortium and the local authorities launched Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC).
It is a highly effective, community-based intervention to prevent malaria in those most vulnerable to the disease’s effects.