BRAC'S innovation in health: a case study

Abstract

This study document and highlight the success stories of NGOs in health sectors, especially in BRAC health programs. This study is also share the level of commitment and initiatives of BRAC those were useful for brining innovations in health sector. It also examines the factors, approaches and strategies those were responsible for BRAC’s innovation in health sector. BRAC Health Care Innovations Program intends to present and deliver comprehensive and worldwide healthcare services to the community people. Community Health Volunteer, familiar as ‘Shasthya Shebika’ in Bangladesh is the foundation of BRAC’s health programs. SS are female volunteers that are employed and trained by BRAC to give a variety of essential healthcare services to their communities. What is exclusive about BRAC’s approach is that, while these women can be regarded as volunteers they do not obtain remuneration. They are provided with financial incentives on the retailing of basic medicines and selected health commodities to their community. This sets BRAC apart from other health programs that rely on Community Health Workers and raises vital questions about the financial and programmatic sustainability of BRAC’s approach. It is well known that relying on formal institutions to train health workers requires considerable time and financial investment. BRAC was the first organization to set up a Community Health Volunteer program in Bangladesh in the 1972s. BRAC addressed these matters by recruiting and training female community health volunteer. They are an impressive force in terms of their numbers, geographic coverage, and quick mobilization. The BRAC Health Program operating model obviously relies on the successful recruitment, training, and retention of female community health volunteers. The rationale for BRAC’s approach is that community-based financial incentives of a volunteer community health workforce can attain broad program coverage and respond to community essential healthcare needs. It also provides earnings opportunities to its female volunteers in lieu of performance. BRAC’s healthcare programs is the instance of low cost and simple equipment integrated within a development perspective could generate parallel results in comparison to high cost, sophisticated intensive methods. The health impact of BRAC is closely shared to its approach: its partnership with those it serve up, its admiration for women, particularly poor women, its consideration to effective support, management and evaluation, and above all, its stimulating leadership. BRAC’s human resources and their partners trust that a better life is possible for all, and by their actions plan to become conscious this belief. By recognizing the multidimensional nature of poverty, BRAC seeks a holistic approach to its programs. The comprehensiveness of programs acknowledges that improving the health of the people of Bangladesh cannot occur without development in all essential areas including education, economic, and social spheres in a strategic approach to counter act poverty through livelihood generation and sustainability.