In addition to networking and information
exchange within the Christian community, CCIH promotes Christian perspectives
in the broader secular and professional global health community. People
want to hear the story of Christian churches and organizations. WHO's addition
of the concept of spiritual well being to its definition of health demonstrates
the secular appreciation of the relevance of faith to health.
What has CCIH done? Last year we sponsored
two panels at the annual conference of Global Health Council (formerly
NCIH). We dialogued with the World Bank about its approach to poverty and
health. We responded to an invitation from the American Public Health Association's
Executive Director to promote a broader vision of real health and wholeness
in APHA's International Health Section and the Caucus on Public Health
and the Faith Community. CCIH explained the work of Christian churches
and organizations at a meeting organized by the Director for International
and Refugee Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Have our initiatives, and those of other
Christian entities, had any positive response? CCIH was asked to document
the work of churches and Christian agencies in post-Hurricane Mitch recon-struction
for a USAID/White House-organized conference. This year, a CCIH member
is the Program Chair of APHA's International Health Section. These small
steps exemplify the opportunity Christians have to speak out and to impact
global health debates.
Along with The CCIH Forum and our
website, CCIH participation in professional meetings is our key strategy
to convey our message. There is no reason for Christians working in international
health to put their light under a bushel. We note, however, a scarcity
of Christians willing to commit the time, energy and vision to communicate
with the secular and professional world waiting to hear our story. Join
us in this effort.
