The Global Health Research Foundation, in Los Altos, Calif., helps bring health technology to underserved populations around the world.
Although 50 billion dollars have been provided by USAID alone to battle HIV and malaria, rates of new infections and deaths continue to grow. GHRF provides tools to battle disease and supports sustainable health development. The organization's methods include needs assessment and outcomes tools, to determine what is working and what is not, and to efficiently target resources. With projects in Uganda, Bhutan and in the Central Valley of CA, GHRF helps medically underserved and at-risk communities overcome barriers to care.
GHRF Director Dr. Erica Weirich, an ardent public health practitioner, tells us:
"I am a physician, Stanford trained and in practice in California. Having worked extensively in health development in the US and abroad, I understood the need for sustainability in health development. Understanding culture, needs, results and best approach is a key to the potential for success."We avoid the "band-aid" approach, and provide community-centered, culturally appropriate health development, aimed to preserve and honor culture. Our programs serve medically at-risk communities, where disease burden is high and resources limited.
"We develop and implement techniques of health delivery, access to care and reduction of illness, suffering and disease, which work within and support community and culture. The well being of individuals and communities depends on a healthy symbiosis of man and the environment. Our aim is to support this where it naturally exists, and to help communities build and sustain it where it has crumbled.
"In all of our endeavors, our goal is to listen and learn first, and to ensure our initiatives are understood, needed and desired by the communities we aim to serve.
"We have been successful in this in our projects. In one example, the Westly Foundation-funded Central Valley Asthma Project, we are working to apply a software "outcomes" tool and Asthma Health Educators to address the alarming rise of severe asthma in Fresno, particularly in children.
"Fresno is the 2rd most polluted city in the U.S. With Westly funding, we approached the community to understand past endeavors and best approach, working closely with the Fresno County Asthma Coalition.
"The Central Valley Asthma Project utilizes culturally fluent Asthma Health Educator/Case Managers, trained specifically in the teaching, support and promotion of asthma treatment. Educators provide evidence-guided case management, assisting community members who require frequent emergency care and may not understand how to use medications and resources to identify, avoid and/or address worsening of the symptoms of this deadly disease.
"An open-sourced software program enables the creation of a unique disease registry titled the "Fresno Asthma Data Exchange" (FADE). This houses air and water quality data, disease morbidity and mortality statistics and research data from Stanford and UCSF researchers, providing immediate feedback on care as well as a venue to examine and empirically evaluate the relationship between asthma and pollution.
"This program will improve quality of care and reduce asthma morbidity and mortality, which are higher here than anywhere else in the country. In this medically underserved, highly at-risk population, community members have guided program structure and implementation. Their involvement is the key to sustainability and program success."
GHRF has joined with the World Wildlife Fund to sponsor an International Symposium on Sustainable Health and Environment. The symposium will be held November 4-6, 2011, in Paro in the Kingdom of Bhutan. The conference will showcase initiatives in health, education and environment which use practical and sustainable initiatives to support both human and environmental health. Details are now available and registration will begin in December.
How You Can Help
- Find out more at GHRF.org.
- Join GHRF's Facebook page and see photos from its projects.
- Donate.
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