With the overarching goal to reduce poverty and facilitate good health and well being for people living in rural communities, ACF’s Public Health program works in four ways to achieve their objectives. We believe that with access to evidenced-based health information using an inclusive approach, all people can focus on important issues like increasing their own human capacity, seeking higher education, and joining to promote a sustainable community.
ACF uses a multi-sectoral approach to addressing determinants of health. In alignment with the Moroccan INDH plan, ACF focuses on:
- Alleviating poverty through education on environmental health, including safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Reduce hunger by implementing strategies to improve nutrition, especially for women and children.
- Develop strategies to positively impact maternal and child health and well being, particularly those in marginalized situations.
- Raising public awareness through health campaigns to promote behavior change.
Goals and Objectives
- Improved Sanitation and Hygiene
- Social Inclusion
- Raising public awareness for behavior change to prevent non-communicable diseases including diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
- Pollution and Toxin Education
- First Aid and Burn Care
- Maternal and Child Health
- Women’s Health
- Prenatal Education for Rural Women
- Facilitating Access to Skilled Birth Attendants
- Support Government Medical Infrastructure by Promoting Usage by Locals
- Promoting Extracurricular Activities for Women and Youth
- Reducing Ambient Pollution
Projects
- Community Health Awareness Days
- Breast Cancer Awareness and Menstruation Management Workshops
- Dental Programs
- Nutrition Education
Highlighted Project – Community Health Awareness Days
The Awareness Days are an ongoing series of community education programs that provide evidence-based information on the importance of public health practices that improve outcomes for health and well-being. Example topics include, clean water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and dental care. ACF board members lead the programs in partnership with the local government and association leaders and students. The Days are free and open to the public.
This project has succeeded in:
- increasing knowledge and practice of basic sanitation and hygiene practices
- changing diets to include more nutritious foods
- decreasing sugar consumption
- awareness of dental care importance
- understanding potable water source protection
- providing basic first aid skills
- expanding knowledge of women’s health practices
The Days incorporate a variety of activities including: roundtable discussions (community leaders and government officials, elementary school students, female and male heads of households); presentations at the elementary school and tutoring program; community educational workshops, field trips and excursions, and current agricultural methods, tools and techniques.