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Home Care - 3.3 Community
3.3 Community
Using a semi-structured, open ended questionnaire, the evaluation team interviewed 15 community leaders who knew of the HCTs, drawn from eight of the districts in Phnom Penh where the HCTs operate. The community leaders included village headmen, group leaders, monks, head of women’s association, pagoda committee member, district governor.
All the community leaders were familiar with, and could list the main activities of the HCTs. The HCTs themselves generally initiated first contact with the community leaders, although one leader had sought out the HCT because he suspected that he was infected and wanted their assistance.
Two of the leaders said that they had not believed that there were any infected people in their communities and had initially been wary of contact with the HCTs. The HCTs concerned had persisted in their efforts to forge links with the community leaders, had gained their trust, and are now welcomed into the community. Meetings between the HCTs and community leaders generally occur twice or three time a month, although three leaders said that they meet the HCTs twice a week.
Twelve (80%) of the community leaders had referred families to the HCT in their areas, and it appears as if the number of referrals from community leaders is increasing.
The community leaders were unanimous in their appreciation of the work of the HCTs. They said that, despite some initial reticence, they were happy and proud to have HCTs working in their areas.
“Their work is really helping my community by taking some of the burden from the patients, and also from the local authorities”, [Village Headman, Krorl Kor Village, Kilometre 6]
“To begin with, the local authorities would not allow the home care team into the community, but now the team is welcomed and respected”, [Monk, Proyouvong Pagoda, Phnom Penh]
Using a semi-structured, open ended questionnaire, the evaluation team interviewed 15 community leaders who knew of the HCTs, drawn from eight of the districts in Phnom Penh where the HCTs operate. The community leaders included village headmen, group leaders, monks, head of women’s association, pagoda committee member, district governor.
All the community leaders were familiar with, and could list the main activities of the HCTs. The HCTs themselves generally initiated first contact with the community leaders, although one leader had sought out the HCT because he suspected that he was infected and wanted their assistance.
Two of the leaders said that they had not believed that there were any infected people in their communities and had initially been wary of contact with the HCTs. The HCTs concerned had persisted in their efforts to forge links with the community leaders, had gained their trust, and are now welcomed into the community. Meetings between the HCTs and community leaders generally occur twice or three time a month, although three leaders said that they meet the HCTs twice a week.
Twelve (80%) of the community leaders had referred families to the HCT in their areas, and it appears as if the number of referrals from community leaders is increasing.
The community leaders were unanimous in their appreciation of the work of the HCTs. They said that, despite some initial reticence, they were happy and proud to have HCTs working in their areas.
“Their work is really helping my community by taking some of the burden from the patients, and also from the local authorities”, [Village Headman, Krorl Kor Village, Kilometre 6]
“To begin with, the local authorities would not allow the home care team into the community, but now the team is welcomed and respected”, [Monk, Proyouvong Pagoda, Phnom Penh]