Providing quality medical care to those in hard-to-reach areas in Suriname
The Medical Mission Primary Health Care Suriname and PAHO work together ensuring the well-being of vulnerable communities
Driven by Christian Principles, the Medical Mission Primary Health Care Suriname has been providing quality health care to the hard-to-reach communities in the interior of Suriname for almost 300 years. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has collaborated with the Medical Mission in many ways over the years, ensuring that vulnerable groups, especially in remote areas, have access to quality health care and are not left behind.
The Medical Mission provides health care through 51 clinics – many accessible only by boat - over an area of 130,000 square kilometers in the districts of Brokopondo and Sipaliwini with about 54,000 persons, mainly indigenous (Amerindian), tribal (Maroon) and migrant populations (gold miners and forestry workers). Its main objective is to promote and secure physical, mental- and social well-being of the population in the interior of Suriname. The Government of Suriname does not have an infrastructure in place for healthcare services or clinics in these areas, and the Medical Mission has proven to be an invaluable partner in providing healthcare services within these remote communities.
As part of an Integrated Primary Health Care model, the Medical Mission has trained healthcare assistants from the communities, to engage in health promotion activities, provide treatment for common ailments, and to provide rehabilitation services under the supervision of doctors.This Christian non-governmental health organization began its service as a medical mission of the Moravian Church from as early as 3 October 1740, with the first missionary and also a doctor, J. Franz Reynier. In the early to mid-1970s they were merged under one umbrella with other Foundations from Baptist and Roman Catholic Churches which were also providing medical care to the Amerindian population. Currently, it operates with direct financial support from the Government as well as donor contributions from local and international partners.
Collaborating to strengthen equity in the access to health services
PAHO’s collaboration with the Medical Mission has covered many programmatic areas but focusing mainly on maternal and child health services. From the introduction of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) to the improvement of quality vaccination in the interior and the implementation of a web-based patient management information system, all those are examples of the collaboration between the organizations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the partnership grew stronger working together to respond to the communities at risk that were affected by COVID-19. Donation of equipment to support infection, prevention and control, and risk communication including the development of information materials in the local languages, were some of the key interventions during this period.
The collaboration between PAHO and the Medical Mission has always been mutually beneficial: PAHO has been able to advance its goals and strategic objectives of its priority programs to those who are most vulnerable, contributing with technical cooperation, while the Medical Mission has strengthened its capacity for provision of healthcare to the communities in the interior of Suriname and advanced the health and well-being of those whom they serve.
With a dedicated and committed team of health care workers and a strong sense of purpose, the Medical Mission is a key partner for PAHO, as it serves a wide group of indigenous and tribal populations in remote areas using innovative approaches and recognizing and respecting the customs and values of the local communities to ensure that equity is at the heart of health.
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