BUILDING A COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM IN AN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOOD IN BEIRUT

Tahaddi, “Challenge” in Arabic, is a community-based organization (CBO) that serves an urban slum in Beirut for over 20 years. Its services cover Lebanese, Dom (the Middle Eastern Roma), and Syrian refugees. As more than 70% of medical visits relate to childhood illnesses and family planning, a community health worker program is being developed in partnership academic institutions and the neighbourhood residents to address these issues. This presentation describes the collaborative preparatory process, the techniques used for engagement and empowerment of community members, the lessons learnt, and the implications on having sustainable solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis. Initially, women living in the neighbourhood were recruited to join a Community Advisory Board (CAB), and provide their input regarding neighbourhood health priorities. A qualitative study was then conducted to explore community health beliefs and practices regarding childhood illness and family planning, and the local attitudes towards community health workers. Participants emphasized environmental factors (poor housing conditions, lack of clean water, improper sewage and trash disposal), as important contributory causes of childhood illness. They suggested approaches to address the various misconceptions and how to gain the various communities’ trust. Through recognizing neighbourhood women as experts of their own circumstances, the project empowered the local population and enabled the design of a health program tailored to needs identified by the community. By bringing together a diverse population, including Lebanese, the Lebanese Dom (Middle Eastern Roma) and Syrian refugees, in a collaborative process, the project helped to diffuse social tensions and increase social cohesion.