September 28, 2018
Peter Navario and Niyati Parekh report from the HealthRight Global Network Retreat in Nairobi, Kenya.
PETER:
Greetings from Nairobi, where the inaugural meeting of the HealthRight Global Network is taking place. We’re working to build a new global health NGO that combines the relative strengths of HealthRight and five indigenous (local) organizations, to close the gap in health outcomes between the most marginalized communities and the general population in the places we work. This new global health NGO will centralize finance, administration, business development, knowledge management, and technical assistance to maximize efficiency and minimize risks, while ensuring "community-up" solution design and implementation. This new entity has expertise in six content areas and operates across nine countries globally. Our approach is to integrate health-system strengthening, service delivery, and research in a virtuous cycle.
The opportunities for GPH faculty and students to engage with us are countless, including technical assistance, new project development, research, data analysis, and manuscript development. I’m thrilled that Niyati could join us to learn more about where her work and ours overlaps, and to identify areas for collaboration at GPH.
We’ve already answered key questions on governance, legal incorporation, mission and vision, and will continue to work out myriad details over the next 12 months. So we're en route to creating a unique, new entity in global health that’s more efficient, effective, and focused on the populations left behind by traditional approaches and large INGOs. I’ll keep the GPH community posted as things develop!
Pictured Above (left to right): Drs. Peter Navario, Niyati Parekh
NIYATI:
Jambo! Here at Lukenya Resort, a getaway from the hustle of Nairobi City, HealthRight is holding a retreat with global NGOs from sub-Saharan Africa, working to form a partnership network with a common goal and mission. These NGOs focus on marginalized populations and tackle public health issues spanning HIV prevention, maternal-child and reproductive health, refugee health, nutrition, and domestic violence.
The executive director of HealthRight, Peter Navario, asked me to attend this retreat and integrate my nutrition work into ongoing projects, specifically in maternal-child health and among refugee populations. Moreover, as director of GPH’s PhD program, I’m exploring this network as a way for doctoral students to use datasets and develop relationships with accomplished health professionals.
My personal passion has been to understand the role of diet and foods in health, through the lens of different cultures and traditions. Being in Kenya allows me to explore the food landscapes, the staples, and the social determinants related to good nutrition. I’m enjoying the local avocados, passion fruit, watermelon and pineapple for dessert, and a variety of sweet potato, yam, cassava and millet main dishes.
My experience in Kenya has humbled me, as I have learned so much about public health issues in sub-Saharan African: gender inequality, human trafficking, sexual practices, taboos and tribal traditions -- and food insecurity and hunger in relation to them all. Peter’s efforts to create a single NGO by merging several smaller ones aims to tackle these big issues with a focused effort. I look forward to contributing to its success!
To end on a heartwarming note: I witnessed the most fascinating sight at our team-building activity at the Nairobi National Park. A lioness and her four cubs, who were looking straight at us! Giraffes, zebras, ostriches, impalas, wild African buffalos, and jackals were some of the other animals we saw, against a serene backdrop of grasslands and a beautiful sunset. HAKUNAMATA from Kenya!
