Mabelle Arole (1935-1999)

One of the pioneers of community-based primary health care has left this earthly life. Mabelle Arole passed away peacefully, from a heart condition, in Jamkhed, India, on September 27, the 29th anniversary of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project.

After finding that traditional medical work in a hospital was not improving the health of the poor villagers, Mabelle, with her husband Raj, initiated their 'experiment' in community-based PHC in another area -Jamkhed. Here they developed PHC concepts, such as equity, integration, community participation/empowerment, and especially the role of village health workers. They worked with the villagers to help them understand the root causes of health conditions, particularly the status and role of women and the caste system, and worked to overcome social and economic problems. They were recognized for their successful work by the Ramon Magsaysay Award (the Asian 'Nobel' award), by WHO and UNICEF, by the Christian Medical Commission and the United Methodist Church, and by many other governments, Christian programs and NGOs.

Mabelle's vision was to make the Jamkhed area a true Shalom -health and wholeness for all people, especially the marginalized. She held a deep sense of justice and integrity and a belief in the potential of humankind and bringing out the image of God in every person. She actively worked against injustice, especially upholding the dignity of women and working endlessly for their upliftment. Her quiet, gentle spirit and words of wisdom inspired people all over the world.

Her writings include the books "Voices of South Asian Women" and "Religion and Rights of Women and Children" (both published by UNICEF, South Asia) and "Jamkhed" (co-authored with Raj).

May her spirit continue to keep the light of community-based PHC glowing brightly throughout the world.

Her family can be contacted at Jamkhed@future.org.

 
CCIH Annual Retreat

Christian Connections for International Health held its annual retreat and conference June 18-20, 1999, at Wellspring near Washington, D.C. The theme, "Blessed are the Poor?", was based on the theme of the Global Health Council conference immediately following, namely "Global Health, Poverty, and Development." 

Forty-five people from around the world participated in group discussions on the following topics, "Countries in Conflict," "Integration of Spiritual and Physical Health," "Jesus Speaks to Women in Poverty," "Global Debt - Globalization - Trade and Aid," "Spirituality of Poverty," and "Working with the Poor." There was time for reflection and prayer and a healing service.

 
CCIH Represents Christian Health Programs to Larger World

One of the defined functions of CCIH is to represent the Christian international health community to the larger secular and professional world. At the June 1999 Global Health Council conference, CCIH sponsored a scientific panel entitled "The Church and the Public Health Pulpit" with presentations on a) community health evangelism, b) a community-based restoration program in East Baltimore with some similarities to developing country experience, and c) the Jamkhed community health program in India. 

At the November 7-11, 1999, conference of the American Public Health Association in Chicago, CCIH is sponsoring a panel on "Pioneering Innovative Approaches to International Health through Church Programs." For next June's GHC conference, they have asked CCIH to organize a panel of the impact of churches on global debt forgiveness through the Jubilee 2000 campaign.