Fisherfolk Community Health network.
Human health is fundamental to maintaining viable livelihoods.Fisher folk are often referred to Most At Risk population [MaRP) and faces both onshore and offshore risks.These risk largely tied to health concerns extend to their families and communities.Due to the unpredictability and high fixed cost of fishing, fishers often prioritize fishing opportunities over their health.RICHI addresses these challenges by reaching out through public health awareness,medical camps, mobile clinics,on spot HIV/Aids testing.Our strategic approaches include the Multiplier ToT module and community health workers empowerment through training and incentives.
Water Sanitation Hygiene.
Access to water and sanitation is a basic human right that safeguards health and human dignity.Despite the abundance,the island suffers chronic shortage of safe drinking water.The ground water is often contaminated by sewage due to poor infrastructure and together with open defecation along the shores and heavy seasonal rains,the water delivers deadly diseases chiefly cholera which is highly contagious and other water bone diseases.Every individual deserves the right from being protected from health hazards posed by poor disposal of excreta and human wastes.Children often falls the victim due to their vulnerability.
Poor water quality is responsible for a bout 9%acute diarrhea and Hepatitis A" virus,80% of non infectious diseases with about 70% of Tanzania's health budget spent on preventable WASH related diseases. Our team's diverse professional expertise which includes infrastructure rehabilitation, community health education, and climate adaptation strategies, are vital for navigating the complexities of water quality and sanitation.
Mother & child health protection.
Adopting best practices in nutrition intervention appropriate delivery and platforms which are critical to the success of nutrition is our strategy.Our best practices for child nutrition includes provision of evidence based nutrition that addresses the immediate causes of malnutrition (over/under nutrition) of infants and young children,social and behavioral change, communication and nutrition sensitive interventions that draws on complementary sectors such as agriculture,social safety early child development and and underlying determinants for poor nutrition including limited access to healthy foods.RICHI achieve this through practical cooking demonstration,kitchen gardens,and village cooking galla
Primary healthcare.
As the national healthcare systems transforms to increase accessibility and improve outcomes,it faces challenges from an increasing chronic disease burdens and rising healthcare cost.Many illnesses disproportionately affect certain population due to disparities in healthcare access and social determinants of health.Addressing these disparities is crucial for improving overall health and reducing healthcare expenditure.RICHI develops innovative interventions to sustainably manage chronic diseases, promote preventative health and improve outcomes for communities disenfranchised from traditional healthcare.Programs like mobile clinics and medical camps have restored dignity to women living with obstetric fistula,deworming to school children and referral of HIV/Aids critical cases for specialized care and management from our healthcare center on Kome Island
Advocacy.
Advocacy is a strategy through which RICHI addresses cross cutting issues that arise from our core programs and government policies such as sustainable agribusiness, entrepreneurship and microfinance training. Our free range poultry farm in Izindabo is a learning model for the community.
Our services and objectives.RICHI exist to;
• Promote useful and informative programs of health education on water, sanitation hygiene (WASH)management and nutrition.
• Promote productive skill oriented and professional health training for community development.
• Raise government awareness on allocation of healthcare resources to the undeserved local communities.
• Promote evidence based advocacy for continuous reforms in child health protection and service delivery.
•Promote a national voice on quality health services improvement and risk management initiatives.
• Promote consultation in the areas of health planning and program development.
• Promote professional ethics as they relate to practice in healthcare.
•Promote and develop alliances with related national and international bodies in the areas of exchange of information,ideas and policies.
Rural Islands Community Health Initiative (RICHI) was founded by Dr. Bernard in 2011 during a mission trip with Emmanuel International,an England christian mission on an Island in Lake Victoria.RICHI addresses critical healthcare gaps in Tanzania's Lake Zone. Initially it responded to medical emergencies in under served areas due to lack of healthcare infrastructure, it was formally registered as a charity in 2012 and an NGO in 2021.
In partnership with various donors, RICHI provides mobile clinics, medical camps, and public health education, focusing on fisher folk communities. Our comprehensive activities emphasizes maternal and child health, chronic disease management, nutrition programs, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene initiatives.
With strategic focus on vulnerable communities, RICHI advocates for better healthcare resources for marginalized populations, evidence-based child protection reforms, and ethical healthcare practices. It aims to scale regionally and nationally, offering community-based health programs tailored to local needs. The organization has positively impacted 37 islands, promoting public health awareness and improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations.