BCFHD organized a consultative workshop targeting 80 participants, including local authorities, community leaders, neighborhood heads, community committees, religious preachers, influential leaders, and civil society organizations. The workshop is part of Targeted Hygiene Promotion Activity Grounded on SBC Models, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In his opening remarks, the Secretary-General of Bena Charity, Mr. Tawfiq Abdulkhabeer, emphasized the importance of joint efforts to enhance health awareness and combat epidemics in the most vulnerable communities. He reiterated the association’s commitment to fostering sustainable behavioral change by engaging the community and collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure the project’s objectives are effectively achieved.
The workshop featured a presentation of the project’s strategy, including its general and specific objectives, expected outcomes, deliverables, and planned activities, along with their effectiveness in achieving the main goal of reducing the spread of epidemics and diseases related to personal hygiene and water, such as watery diarrhea, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, and other illnesses that burden citizens, particularly in urban neighborhoods, city outskirts, and displacement areas.
Dr. Faten Al-Barkani, Deputy Director of the Health Education Department at the provincial health office, praised Bena Charity’s efforts in organizing the workshop. She stressed the importance of strengthening health awareness as a key tool in curbing the spread of epidemics. Furthermore, she highlighted the need to activate partnerships between health entities and the local community to achieve the desired behavioral change and ensure the sustainability of positive outcomes.
A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to group discussions and the exchange of ideas on ensuring active participation of targeted communities. The discussions also addressed the integration of roles for stakeholders across various categories, emphasizing the sustainability of efforts to establish healthy behaviors that will ultimately help break the cycle of infection and alleviate the suffering of families and the community as a whole.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the Deputy Director of Social Affairs and Labor, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Bakari, expressed his gratitude to Bena Charity for organizing this important event, emphasizing the importance of involving all community groups in the process of health behavior change. Additionally, Dr. Akram Al-Amiri, the project liaison officer, extended his thanks to all attendees, including community members, local authorities, and organizations, for their participation and engagement in discussing the workshop agenda.
