| Advocacy Stories: Dr. Peter Okaalet |
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DR. PETER OKAALET, OKAALET & ASSOCIATES, LTD.
 On Thursday, 1 December 2011, CCIH co-sponsored a congressional briefing in commemoration of World AIDS Day. "Better Together: Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Integration" took place in the Rayburn House Office Building and featured a welcome from Congresswoman Lois Capps, a former public health nurse, and opening remarks from Mandy Moore, Ambassador for Population Services International, singer-songwriter, and actress. Panelists included Dr. Peter Okaalet, of Okaalet & Associates, Ltd. (formerly of MAP International), a CCIH member, who made CCIH proud as he shared from a Christian perspective the efficiency and effectiveness of integrating family planning and HIV services. Dr. Okaalet shared that speaking on Capitol Hill was as humbling as it was significant, and the interactions with other participants and panelists were educative. “The statistics we shared with participants spoke volumes with respect to the scope and role played by faith-based organizations in the field,” he said. The faith-based voice was well received and held in high regard.
In addition to this event, Dr. Okaalet met with Senator Lindsey Graham’s office on Capitol Hill to discuss the important role of the church and religious leaders in family planning education and integration of family planning with HIV/AIDS services.
Dr. Okaalet commented on the entire experience of spending time on Capitol Hill and educating congressmen and women: “Just imagine the opportunity that was ours—of contributing to policy changes,” he shared. “How many people get the opportunity to do so in their lifetimes?”
While it took a bit of planning, praying and partnering with CCIH and MAP International, Dr. Okaalet found value in taking the time to advocate in a way that was understandable to the audience. While it could be applicable in Kenya, a message may not make sense to DC-based policy makers. “It is the context,” he noted several times, “that should determine the content of one’s message.” Finding common ground becomes the first step to having difficult conversations.
About the practice of advocacy, he said:
Advocacy is a two-pronged affair. First, it is “in-reach” to our own communities and constituencies, be they congregations, churches, institutions, including our own kith and keen. Secondly, advocacy is also “out-reach” to the powers that be, policy makers and opinion influencers. It is also “out-reach” to other communities, religions, nations and institutions. Ultimately advocacy is about “speaking up and out” together with and on behalf of the groups that we usually describe as voiceless. In my view, we all have voices. It is just that some people’s voices tend to be ignored, irrespective of how much and how loud they shout.
CCIH has increased its advocacy efforts by visiting the offices of Members of Congress to share information about the positive impact that funding targeted to women and children can have around the world, including the positive impact of family planning integration. The most effective messages continue to be brought by those who have experienced this themselves in the work that they are doing.
To share your own story to policy makers Capitol Hill like Dr. Okaalet, please contact advocacy@ccih.org.
Dr. Okaalet Presentation | download
Congressional Briefing event on video | view
Photos of Dr. Okaalet's time in D.C. | view
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 January 2012 17:34 ) |