What is sustainability? Simply put, it is the capacity to continue. Sustainable humanitarian programs provide lasting benefits to communities beyond short-lived emergency responses, which substitute local health responses. In practice, this means that we support programs that strive to ensure that sustainable health care is enjoyed long after programs end by training and supporting local health workers, working collaboratively with local authorities and involving local communities in the design, delivery and evaluation of programs.
MAC’s grantees seek to work in partnership with local health authorities to reinforce the local health system rather than creating parallel health structures, which often substitute and potentially undermine existing local resources. Often our grantees purposely limit the number of expatriates working in the field in favor of hiring and training local or national health professionals to ensure that local medical expertise is developed and can remain once programs are turned over to local authorities.
In addition to curative care and preventive education, the Medical Aid Committee seeks to reinforce the capacity of the local health system to independently take over programs in the long term. To help prepare a health system for autonomy, our supported programs address three themes:
In addition to working with local health professionals and authorities, an integral part of MAC’s grant making is our emphasis on collaboration with local NGOs and the promotion of community-based health management committees. Building the capacity of local NGOs to continue activities, such as HIV/AIDS educational workshops, ensures a transfer of skills, knowledge and competency to local communities as well as the strengthening of local civil society. Community-based management committees oversee the ongoing maintenance and operation of the facilities constructed or rehabilitated by our grantees - whether wells, community centers or clinics. In this way, our supported programs ensure community participation in and ownership of local health resources and infrastructure.
The Medical Aid Committee is dedicated to ensuring the lasting impact of the programs we support and the long-term health of communities emerging from humanitarian crises by fostering strong local health resources.
