Voices from the Field: Understanding Community Needs
At VHC Medical Brigade, we understand that delivering aid to hard-to-reach areas requires more than just goodwill; it requires a deep understanding of the actual needs and the impact of our efforts. Unlike businesses that gauge success through sales or customer feedback, our work with vulnerable populations demands a more proactive approach to measuring impact.
Proactive Engagement for Measurable Impact
"We manage what we measure." This principle guides our mission, highlighting the importance of not just providing help but also assessing the outcomes of our interventions. Each year, we commit to a thorough evaluation through our annual assessment, which plays a crucial role in shaping our programs and strategies.
2024 Annual Assessment: A Closer Look at Rural Needs
This summer, our dedicated field team has embarked on a significant endeavor—conducting our annual rural needs, perceptions, and impact assessment. Over 250 households across the rural communities we serve are being visited to collect essential data that will inform our understanding of their current needs, access to services, and the effectiveness of our initiatives.
The scope of this year's survey is comprehensive, covering critical areas such as school attendance, healthcare service satisfaction, and common health issues among children, including the prevalence of diarrhea, which is a significant indicator of environmental health conditions.
Team Effort in Data Collection
Our assessment team, comprising over 35 committed volunteers, including Community Health Workers and students specializing in health and nutrition, has been diligently collecting data. Armed with digital devices, they've been trekking from house to house to engage directly with the families we aim to support. This hands-on approach not only guarantees the precision of our data but also strengthens our connection with the community, ensuring that their voices are heard and that our services are more effectively tailored to their needs.
Looking Ahead
As we continue our assessment, we are poised to complete this extensive fieldwork and publish our findings later in the summer. These insights will be pivotal in adjusting our interventions to better meet the needs of these communities and enhance the efficacy of our programs.
While we work on this year's report, we invite you to revisit our findings from last year. Read 2023’s assessment here.
Stay tuned as we prepare to share the outcomes of our 2024 assessment, which promises to bring new perspectives and directions for our ongoing efforts to improve health in rural Honduras.