Global Health Action, Inc.

Hello,
I really love what you are doing and i could love to volunteer. I am in Kenya-Africa

My husband and I have been donors to Global Health Action for many years. I know firsthand of the good work they have accomplished in Haiti through their community health and development programs. The goat program has helped to improve the lives of rural Haitians by providing a sustainable source of income.

GHA has had a sustained service commitment (30+ years) improving lives of people in the rural and mountainous areas of Haiti through community health education. This past April I had the incredible privilege to witness GHA in action in rural Haiti. In contrast to many NGOs operating in Haiti, the entire GHA staff in Haiti is Haitian.

I love GHA's goat project, where Haitian staff run a goat station which includes breeding Haitian goats with hardier goat species and then giving pregnant goats to beneficiaries living in rural, mountainous isolated communities in Haiti. Each impregnated goat provides a sustained impact on improving the lives of the beneficiaries, who are now in a position to sell some of their goats for purposes such as materials for a roof or education for a child. The GHA goat station staff trains community animal health workers, who live in the same communities as the goat recipients and these animal health workers provide assistance and advice in raising goats and if a goat is sick in their community.

Global Health Action (GHA) was founded over 40 years ago by two Atlanta visionaries, Virginia Proctor and Ada Fort. Their mission to improve the health and well-being of individual communities in under-served areas continues to be accomplished through community-based health programs and livelihood opportunities to this day.

A brief look at the positive impact and accomplishments of GHA follows:

Thousands of GHA graduates in 97 countries are addressing the most pressing health care needs in their communities and nations!

In Haiti, GHA has trained over 1200 Community Health Workers and more than 4000 goat farmers. (See more on the Goat Project at globalhealthaction.org. Truly it is a unique program focusing on livelihood opportunities. )

In China, more than 600 Chinese national and provincial health leaders have been trained in management and leadership!

More than 900 health leaders from around the world are graduates of GHA's international health management courses held in Atlanta, Georgia!

Twenty countries have been the recipients of customized in-country training and workshops.

300 program directors and managers from 32 African countries have completed the GHA HIV/AIDs course!


This is just the tip of the iceberg of the ongoing programs and accomplishments, of which there are many. The budget constraints are immense. The success of this organization is due to a small, unusually dedicated staff of individuals who live the mission of GHA, and Robin Davis, RN, MN who has been CEO almost since GHA's inception.


As a health expert, donor, and member of the Board of Directors of GHA, I am honored and humbled to be part of this phenomenal organization.

I first became aware of Global Health Action in 2005 at a United Methodist Women's retreat in North GA. I am pleased to now serve on the Board of Directors for GHA. Imagine the USA in the 1800's no available healthcare, or immunzations, or even assitance with birthing. This organization trains Community Health Workers to serve in their villages, providing immnuzations, education, and birthing assistance to remote villiagers who other wise would not have care. GHA also sponcers the Goat project were we give a pregnant goat to a family, teach them how to care for it, and how to bread etc. so that they will have a source of income, and sustance. I am very proud of the Board and Staff of GHA for all they conitune to do for those in Haiti

As an educator, I find Global Health Action to be a wonderful community partner for our students. They are able to volunteer providing Welcome Receptions for visitors from across the globe, while putting to practice the language skills they are studying, and they learn about countries like Haiti and see first-hand the impact on a family there by purchasing a goat through the Haitian Goat Project. As our school's Community Service Coordinator, I always look for ways for our students not only to volunteer but also to learn about the ways they can make a difference in becoming involved in the needs and concerns of others. That is exactly what GHA does -- by serving the poor and improving the health of communities around the world. Our students truly see that the work they do impacts us all! Stan Moor

From my first day volunteering with Global Health Action I have been impressed with the work that they do in Haiti and have done throughout the world. Global Health Action has years of experience in working to improve health and economic development in rural communities throughout Haiti. Their programs are implemented by local Haitians from the communities in which they work. Global Health Action is very focused on vulnerable populations within these communities, and works continuously to improve maternal and child health through programs such as training community health workers and traditional birth attendants as well as women's empowerment initiatives. They also have a very successful goat program that has been in place for over two decades. This program provides families with a starter goat and training in animal care, and many families have capitalized on this to improve their economic status. Global Health Action is a committed organization with knowledgeable employees both in Haiti and in Decatur with a proven record of implementing programs that truly make a difference in people's lives.

In September 2013 I led a team that traveled to Haiti to see the work of Global Health Action. We saw a vaccination clinic, traditional birth attendant training, medical clinic, goat farmer training and goat distribution. I must commend GHA for all the years they have invested in the people of Haiti – over 30. Haiti is not an easy place to visit or serve and GHA has had a continuous presence there. After the earthquake of 2010, GHA played a leadership role in getting aid where it was needed. With an all Haitian staff GHA is known as an agency that truly cares about the health and welfare of the Haitian people. I consider GHA an excellent steward of donations, accounting for all funds and very willing to share all financial records. I wish more people had an opportunity to see the work of GHA first hand as we did.

My family and I have been involved with Global Health Action for more than 25 years. We remain impressed by the work done. Local folks are involved in all levels of the work. Training of local health workers and a long close association make the work in Haiti very effective.

I am a volunteer, donor and board member. I have traveled 2 times in past 2 years with this group to Haiti. Once with just Robin Davis, director. The second trip in September with 5 others was truly outstanding and rewarding. We met with the staff, went out in field to witness firsthand their commitment and dedication to those they were helping. They have an all Haitian staff. We went to observe at a clinic 2.5 hours from Port a Prince monthly meeting health care workers and mom's and their children. They were there to get shots and or inoculations and to be educated on what else was needed to keep their children healthy. 30-40 mothers and children were there. Even though i spoke no French or Creole we were able to interact with the folks in a positive and fun way. It went on for 4-5 hours.

Another day in another town or village we observed a meeting of birth attendants who walked from as far as 8 hours away to get new supplies, get update or review on their skills. 45-60 birth attendants came. It blew me away how proud they were of who they were , their dedication to providing quality healthcare in their village and what a difference they were making in peoples lives there.

A third day we were in Darbonne to observe training of farmers who wanted to supplement their income by obtaining a pregnant goat from Global Health Action. They were trained for 2 days how to care and raise goats. 15 came from many hours away for the goats.

The staff in all cases does follow ups with all of the farmers to be sure they are caring for goats.

In the other programs they also follow up medical attendants and birth attendants to be sure they continue to educate or reinforce what they have learned. Folks with serious health issues to larger cities to get treatment.

They are very good stewards of monies that are given to them. They have checks and balances that protects against theft or graft or waste. They have been in the business of helping people for 40 years in Haiti with a specific interest in health and education and training of locals. They are involved in China., India as well.

We went to Haiti this year and was a great experience. The work that Global Health Action is doing in that country is amazing. The goat farm program and the traditional birth attendants training programs are a blessing to the communities. They offer hope and education for a brighter future.

I got involved with Global Health Action because my father was one of their first supporters 40 years ago, and he always said they did more good with less money than any organization he knew. When I was asked to be on the board, I immediately said yes, and have found out that his assessment is even more true today. GHA trains primary health care workers in Haiti, family planning workers in China, and those who work with the millions of Left Behind Children in China. Their mission has evolved as the needs of the world have changed, but there is always a need for the hands on approach GHA has promoted.

Global Health Action is a remarkable organization that continues to contribute to health lives and communities around the world. Its flagship program, which has been active in Haiti for decades, is a prime example of the patient and persevering, but also innovative, work that GHA does. GHA has been in Haiti through thick and thin over the years. Importantly, GHA understands the importance of building local capacity, and it has done this over the years at the level of the community and community health workers, as well as that of the health system in Haiti. During the recent earthquake that devastated so much of Haiti, including the region where GHA is working, this organization helped to both relieve the immediate suffering, but also has worked to build anew for the long-term. Its innovative goat husbandry program has made a difference to thousands of Haitians and their families over the years. On the other side of the world, its efforts with health education for women and improving the health and lives of the "left-behind children" are remarkable as well.

I sit on a board in the U.S. that has supported GHA's work in Haiti. They submit an annual grant to us for their various work that they provide the poor and malnourished of Haiti This is an organization that follows through on their commitments, is accessible to donors, clients and staff. The impact GHA is making in Haiti is profound.

GHA has a long history of service to Haiti, India and other developing countries. I have served on the Program Committee for many years. I have also been involved in reviewing mini-grants for local development projects. Leadership training has been a key activity, and the approach to training has been state of the art. This non-profit - small and compact - does make a difference.

As an American living in China, I had the opportunity to see GHA's life-changing international work firsthand. Their efforts on behalf of women and children here are remarkable-- particularly their ability to work with local healthcare leaders to create change and results in a challenging culture.

This organization is effective and efficient with focused and tangible goals. The staff is hard working and accountable and is making a difference in Haiti using validated methods. They are devoted to their cause.

Global Health action is a superior non-profit organization on the ground in Haiti providing multiple programs for a very vulnerable and impoverished population. Through the community health initiatives GHA coordinates, they effectively and consistently strive for and accomplish a positive transformation of many lives. I have had the privilege of partnering with GHA for several years and find the organization to be very professional and well organized.

Global Health Action betters the lives of individuals and families around the world through community health initiatives and a "train the trainer" approach. To combat malnutrition in children in rural areas of Haiti, GHA has provided more than 4,000 pregnant goats to families thus enabling them to become self-sufficient. In fact, after decades of work in Haiti, GHA had the staff and infrastructure in place through its community health workers to provide immediate assistance in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. On the other side of the globe, GHA is educating the children left behind by migrant workers in China's rural provinces about those health issues impacting young people worldwide. Over the past 40 years this organization has leveraged its dedicated staff and limited resources with partners around the world to change the lives of thousands of poor and underserved, especially women and children.

I have closely followed and admired the work of GHA for 20 years and am consistently impressed with how effectively and efficiently GHA applies its resources for optimal impact. Having worked with a number of local and national non-profits, I have the greatest respect for GHA's philosophy of achieving its healthcare goals by training local health leaders in communities around the world. Not only does GHA create a foundation for sustainable health improvements in each country, it is also uniquely positioned to make an immediate difference when a crisis occurs as it did in Haiti. With healthcare workers already in place and part of communities in Haiti, GHA could move quickly to address health issues while others were still organizing. This is just one example of the beauty of the GHA community-based approach to creating positive change in the world.

Global Health Action is a faith based non- profit that reaches the under served communities in many improvised villages and communities unnoticed by others. They provide much needed health care training to local health care workers who then reach out to thousands of local people who lack the very basic health education and this saves many lives. Millions die each year around our world that lack the necessary elements of exsistance....clean water. GHA through local health care worker training makes a difference in improving the daily lives of those they reach. It has been an honor to be associated with this organization for many years and to see what a difference they have made.

I had the pleasure of making a site visit to Global Health Action's animal health workers project in Darbonne, Haiti this past July and was so impressed with both the innovation of the project and the necessity of it. Many donors are now well-versed in understanding the importance of livestock in rural development, but this project also addresses the attendant need for individuals that are trained to care for these animals. These animal health workers undergo a rigorous selection process, are trained meticulously in all aspects of caring for these animals, and are selected from members of the community to act as both service providers and as overall leaders. It is such an amazing way to unite and educate the community on such an important factor in rural development.

Global Health Action continues to fulfill its mission through training community health care workers in areas of the world that are under served. As a board member I marvel at the efficiency and the fiscal responsibility with which the organization operates. The organization helps people to improve the health and living standards through education and training. The goat project gives families hope and sustenance; the women's health initiatives in China are changing and improving vast numbers of lives. For the board members Global Health Action provides informative and productive meetings.

Global Health Action, a non-profit global health and development organization recognizes that authentic health transformation of any person or situation requires unique educational programs that include leadership, management, and individual self-development and community engagement. I have served GHA in many roles since its inception in 1972. As a professional Mental Health Nurse, I provided basic communication and leadership courses for nurses in the USA classrooms. In the beginning years, GHA was known as INSA and provided core principles for international nurses only. After 5 years, I was invited to be a Board member to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and heard the call of our graduates to bring the impactful programs to their home countries to train all health care providers. The name was changed to communicate more accurately our commitment…Global Health Action, )GHA). As traveling faculty, I, along with other committed faculty, traveled to Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, India, the Solomon Islands and China to bring this transformational light to thousands of now graduates. With a philosophy that every community and culture required its own unique approach and that the participants would know and use local resources and approaches, the health care participants designed and produced programs that improved the health and quality of life in their local communities. GHA has provided its special programs to health care professionals in almost 100 countries. Maintaining possibility and a results-focused approach in the midst of pain, suffering and hopelessness has brought what many would consider remarkable, even miraculous changes in lives around the world. After 20 years as Board Member involved in program development and training, I know the work of GHA personally and professionally. As a front line observer, I saw the dramtic changes in life-saving, disease diminishing, leadership development in the lowest of positions that altered the health of communities. Never in my many years of experience with many non-profit organizations have I ever known or engaged in and organization or work that has done more with less, an organization that has repeatedly kept its administrative overhead to a minimum and has given the tools and training for personal and community transformation to 10’s of thousands of people. Sometimes visions get lost in the politics of position, politics and money. GHA came from a vision of heart and soul and aligned that vision with a commitment of action and financial participation which lives loudly and brightly throughout the world…in the under-served communities often overlooked…providing innovative health education and leadership development that will last long beyond the people who made it all possible. GHA allowed me to live out my mission and dreams and be transformed in the process. To continue to acknowledge and support GHA is as natural as breathing.

I have worked with several nonprofits, including those with local impact as well as serving broader geographic areas. My experience with GHA has impressed me far more than any other organization with which I have worked. The organization has only one goal - improve the lives of the people it serves, without any political agenda. It accomplishes more than any organization I have ever observed with limited resources. It's employees and volunteers are dedicated and committed to service and it's impact in Haiti has need phenomenal. It s having a similar impact in rural China.

As a new Board member, i came to know GHA in 2006. What GHA has done is amazing considering the scope of its involvement on Health issues. I actaully attended several of its programs and they are top notch!

GHA is a great place to learn more about international nonprofits and gain experience working with fantastic program managers.

I am director of Global Women, a nonprofit in Alabama that is concerned with global issues impacting women. Maternal health is one of those issues that we pay close attention to. We are not experts, so we chose to connect with GHA as experts in the field of improving maternal health in Haiti! We have included funds for GHA in our annual budgets for the past 2 years, and have committed funds again for 2013 to support the monthly traditional birth attendants training in Petit Goave. Our organization is made up of individuals and groups that have also, over the past 4 years, assembled birthing kits and sent to the birth attendants to assist them in their deliveries. I led a team of women from Global Women to Haiti in March, 2012. We were able to attend a monthly training for the TBA's, and deliver more kits. We all loved seeing the program in action and meeting the dedicated TBA's and GHA leaders, and especially love their approach of empowering the local leaders. What joy to see the pride in the TBA's and the affirmation that GHA gives to them, valuing their commitment to be trained. Some walked over 7 hours one way to attend the meeting! The head nurse, Mirellaine, wants to lower the maternal mortality rate in Haiti, and GHA is helping her and TBA's in remote villages, to do just that! We are thrilled to be a partner in the good work of GHA, Mirellaine, and the TBA's!

I was just an ordinary nurse, very timid and passive. I went to GHA IN 1993 September and the experience has changed my life and I have never been the same. I am now very assertive and confident and this has motivated me to do my FIRST AND SECOND DEGREES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA. LEGON, THE BEST UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY. I METAMORPHOSED LIKE THE BUTTERFLY THAT GHA NICKNAMED ME. I NOW HOLD A MPHIL DEGREE AND PRESENTLY IN A PHD PROGRAMME . I served my country as the Principal of Ankaful Nurses' Training College (ANTC) training HUNDREDS of mental health nurses now posted to remote rural areas to care for both the mentally and physically ill.. I arranged and enabled quite a good number of brilliant but needy students to become nurses free of charge. I completely transformed the college from a typical village school no one wanted to a masterpiece. Among achievements are the establishment of an 80 seater modern ICT Center , a sports complex with landscaping and beautification of the ANTC. Even though I have now retired from the Ministry of Health I am still very active and a full time lecturer at the Central University College in Accra. I owe it all to GHA, GOD bless GHA, Thank you Robin, Claudette and all.

I worked with GHA staff in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007 to run a training on AIDs prevention for members of the Presbyterian Church. The church members, mostly laity and some pastors, impressed me deeply with their spirit and commitment. I was also impressed with the trust that GHA has earned over the years so that the Church invited them to give this training. GHA has similar networks in many countries, where people know the value of the participatory training method GHA uses with such skill and heart. Right after the earthquake in Haiti, where GHA has long and deep involvement, friends were kept informed of the safety and health of the local staff - not only of the expats who work there. This is another sign to me of GHA's commitment and connection to the people of the countries it works in.