Spreading Health

• In the developing world healthcare systems are inevitably focused on urban areas where the population is most concentrated.
• It is enormously expensive to provide a universal healthcare system such as we have in the UK, and for many governments in developing countries this is beyond their means.
• Many people in rural areas have difficulties accessing healthcare.
• Whilst on this volunteer placement, it occurred to Peter that the need in rural areas is for fundamental and basic healthcare and that this can be provided by a well trained nurse and midwife, with access to doctors when needed.

• This charity is, therefore, founded on the belief that we can best contribute to the wider spread of health by sponsoring local people to train as health professionals to work in their own communities.
• The involvement of the community is vital in the selection of a candidate, to give support during training. Provide a clinic building and employment therein once the student nurse has qualified. This involvement will lead to more sustainable long term development of rural healthcare, because the nurse is more likely to remain in that placement as it is their original community. In some cases the state has taken responsibility for funding of a Spreading Health sponsored nurse and their clinic further increasing the likelihood of sustainability.
• It is expected that once qualified and experienced, these health professionals will accept future students for training attachments with them in their village health clinics.

Shumas