On May 9, Partners In Health, in partnership with the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC), held the face-to-face workshop “Taking Theory to Action”, a day of collaborative work with community health workers (CHWs) that marked the closing of a virtual course on community advocacy.
During the workshop, 21 ACS participants worked in groups to identify urgent issues in their communities, and build advocacy routes that allow them to drive concrete changes from their role as local leaders.
“The agents have received support to complete all the virtual modules, and today they are developing a common proposal based on a priority that they chose by consensus,” explained Helen Meniz, head of the Advocacy and Community Relations Unit of Socios En Salud.
The methodology combines theoretical content with practical dynamics aimed at getting the ACSs to incorporate advocacy tools into their daily work. The objective is clear: to strengthen the advocacy skills of those who have first-hand knowledge of the health problems affecting the population.
From training to action: The active role of ACSs
Meniz stressed that Socios En Salud maintains a strong commitment to strengthening health systems, especially through community work, which allows for the reduction of inequalities.
“In this sense, ACSs play an important role not only in primary care, but also in improving public policies. This course has served to show them how to advocate from their experience and knowledge of the territory,” he said.
For the participants, the experience has been transformative. “At the beginning I had doubts, many questions, but it is helping me a lot. I didn’t know how to guide people to raise their voices in a health center. Now I know how to do it,” said Susana Gamboa, one of the community agents who completed the course. “What I take away from here is self-confidence.”
During the closing plenary, the groups presented their advocacy plans to strategic allies and local institutions, taking the first step to turn their learning into action.
With initiatives like this, Socios En Salud reaffirms its commitment to community leadership and the strengthening of a fairer health system, where the voices of the territory have a leading role in social transformation.
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