IHD Strategic Plan: ‘Building Healthy Communities’
A young malaria patient in Africa. Photo by Dr. Dorothy Brewster-Lee.
In response to the changing needs of the world and its own diminishing resources, International Health and Development has drafted a strategic plan to make its work on behalf of our partner churches both more intentional and more effective. “Building Healthy Communities“ will be the theme underlying IHD’s activities as the office lives out its mandate to help partner churches respond to the health needs of the poorest of God’s people.
“Building Healthy Communities” reflects the focus of IHD on a holistic, integrated approach to health, which addresses the underlying causes of disease. IHD will continue its historic support of many medical institutions but will focus future support on activities that equip our overseas partners to assess and respond to health and development needs with programs that emphasize prevention and community participation. Examples of these include rural immunization clinics, HIV/AIDS education, nutrition rehabilitation and clean water projects.
The IHD Strategic Plan has been developed over the course of nearly two years in a process that has included surveys of IHD constituency groups, an analysis of IHD's strengths and weaknesses and an intensive two-day workshop. The workshop and other exercises in the process were facilitated by PC(USA) mission co-worker Dr. Beverley Booth, who previously guided our partner in Nepal, the United Mission to Nepal, in its own comprehensive strategic planning process. Participating in the IHD process were World Mission staff, mission co-workers serving with several of our overseas partners, representatives of the Medical Benevolence Foundation and members of the Presbyterian Women national leadership.
The Strategic Plan was approved by the the General Assembly Mission Council, but it is still a fluid document, underscoring a dynamic working plan that can be responsive to changing needs and changing resources.
Read the IHD Strategic Plan
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