Sustainable Health Improvement and Empowerment in Myanmar (SHINE)

Duration: August 2011 - December 2013
Donor: Royal Danish Embassy and Chevron

The Sustainable Health Improvement and Empowerment (SHINE) program builds upon Pact's previous work in community health and empowerment programs in Myanmar's Sagaing Division. SHINE works with approximately 40,000 households in 245 villages in 3 remote townships to build community-led networks leading to sustainable impact on the most important causes of morbidity and mortality affecting rural communities in Myanmar.

Pact's technical approach has three broad components:

• Recognition of high demand for income generation and the value of community-owned resources
• Deepened technical response to community disease management
• Women's participation and empowerment as an amplifier to community health action

The initial workshops of the project generate momentum and share vision at the community level. Communities then select Change Agents in specific disease areas, form Mothers' Groups for Maternal and Child health improvement, and develop action plans for community health improvements and development. Community-generated and -managed Village Health and Development Funds established though household contributions and Pact matching grants enable them to sustainably meet TB Heroes, Malaria Control Leaders and Childhood Development Defenders build the capacity of local volunteers to support and sustain community responses to disease while providing prevention and testing materials and linking them to formal health facilities for treatment.

In SHINE's second year, Pact will adopt saving-led village banks approach and integrate these activities into the existing Mothers' Groups in order to sustain a high level of participation, to enhance the leadership role of women, and to increase household incomes. The project will encourage community dialogue, self-directed leadership and decision making, and locally generated solutions while also creating frameworks for cross-village networking and support.

Staff contacts

Sarah Sitts
Program Officer, Washington, DC
ssitts@pactworld.org