Short term medical missions can contribute towards sustainable primary health care.  How?

1. Focus on those most at risk: women and children under five.

2. Insist that your funders allow you to put 15 (or more) % of your efforts and $ into sustainable programs:

3. Programs more likely to result in permanent change include:

– self sustaining nutrition efforts like home gardens for family sustenance

– growth monitoring with community supported good food for those 0-5 children below 80% of standard weight for age or faltering (no wt gain x 2-3 months)

– women’s education

– non profit small loans for groups of women willing to work together

– community organized and locally funded insurance for the transport of any woman in obstructed labor to the nearest health center equipped to provide surgical intervention as needed

– child spacing info and services available to all families

– support exclusive breast feeding