Drs. Rick and Anita practiced family medicine together in a small town in Michigan, USA. There they witnessed in their patients how lifestyle factors such as
inactivity, poor nutrition, stress and obesity were responsible for much of the chronic disease that they treated. They saw that as medical professionals in the
office setting they were largely unable to offer effective solutions to their patients. They came to the conclusion that a holistic home-based approach involving
existing family and friend networks over time is the key to effectively promote healthy lifestyles. In 2002, they took positions with International Ministries that
allowed them to use their medical experience and training to develop such community based programs to complement existing medical services. They moved
with their two sons to Durban, South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal where heart and artery disease and HIV/AIDS are the top killers. "Health builders"
are locally trained people who go out into their communities seeking to identify people in the early disease stages before they get very ill. Health builders
screen, educate, encourage and refer for common health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, weight problems, HIV/AIDS, and
malaria. They also organize on-going health classes in homes with family and friends, encouraging people to live well and looking at the common factors
which make lifestyle change difficult for people. Besides using health screening skills and informative videos, health builders encourage people through
shared study of the teachings contained in the Bible.
inactivity, poor nutrition, stress and obesity were responsible for much of the chronic disease that they treated. They saw that as medical professionals in the
office setting they were largely unable to offer effective solutions to their patients. They came to the conclusion that a holistic home-based approach involving
existing family and friend networks over time is the key to effectively promote healthy lifestyles. In 2002, they took positions with International Ministries that
allowed them to use their medical experience and training to develop such community based programs to complement existing medical services. They moved
with their two sons to Durban, South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal where heart and artery disease and HIV/AIDS are the top killers. "Health builders"
are locally trained people who go out into their communities seeking to identify people in the early disease stages before they get very ill. Health builders
screen, educate, encourage and refer for common health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, weight problems, HIV/AIDS, and
malaria. They also organize on-going health classes in homes with family and friends, encouraging people to live well and looking at the common factors
which make lifestyle change difficult for people. Besides using health screening skills and informative videos, health builders encourage people through
shared study of the teachings contained in the Bible.
Bethel Health Builders...
Lifestyle related diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and HIV/AIDS require a series of changes over time to improve health and prevent
complications. To make the series of small changes, four elements are important, like the four wheels of a car rolling to its destination. The following
elements need to be addressed for an effective journey to health.
complications. To make the series of small changes, four elements are important, like the four wheels of a car rolling to its destination. The following
elements need to be addressed for an effective journey to health.
A Holistic Approach...
Most countries are facing enormous drains on their budgets and health care personnel shortages. Medical professionals simply cannot provide the holistic
approach on a mass scale that is needed especially in developing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, with new technologies, it is possible to equip lay
people to address these problems in a way which is sustainable, replicable and cost-effective.
All these technologies enable persons with or without a medical background to be trained to do confidential screening tests in homes, neighborhoods,
community events, schools, markets, businesses and churches. Training is facilitated by videos and manuals. External examinations and quality assurance
are part of the process. Training involves two parts. The basic skills comes first, then practicing in the community with direct feedback from the teachers is
second. Health builders are trained to lead on-going health classes. Time required to train varies with the educational background of the student and ranges
from 20 - 80 hours of small group and 1:1 training. Equipping costs vary with setting and resources. These often include income generating projects for
indigent health builders in rural and peri-urban settlements, or displaced people.
approach on a mass scale that is needed especially in developing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, with new technologies, it is possible to equip lay
people to address these problems in a way which is sustainable, replicable and cost-effective.
 | Point-of-Care Tests which are affordable, portable, can be stored at room-temperature and easy to use such as rapid HIV tests, glucometers and | |
| portable cholesterol devices. | ||
| Non-reusable, retractable single-use lancet devices which ensure safety before, during and after use. | |
| Portable video players with long-life batteries enable health builders to work off the grid. Solar charging is effective in rural settings. | |
| Digital video, still cameras, and desktop publishing are now more affordable, bringing down the production costs for video projects, animation and | |
| training manuals. | ||
| Easy to use, affordable video-editing and animation software brings the production of a large number of educational videos translated into various | |
| African languages within the range of affordability. |
community events, schools, markets, businesses and churches. Training is facilitated by videos and manuals. External examinations and quality assurance
are part of the process. Training involves two parts. The basic skills comes first, then practicing in the community with direct feedback from the teachers is
second. Health builders are trained to lead on-going health classes. Time required to train varies with the educational background of the student and ranges
from 20 - 80 hours of small group and 1:1 training. Equipping costs vary with setting and resources. These often include income generating projects for
indigent health builders in rural and peri-urban settlements, or displaced people.
| Mental: Knowing of why change is important, deciding to change, making a plan, implementing the plan and maintaining healthy changes and coping | |
| with relapse are all essential components of behavior change. | ||
| Social: Family and friends are important sources of support for an individual. If they are excluded from the change process they can seriously | |
| undermine an individual's attempts to change. | ||
| Physical: Physical aspects include assessment of the current state of health as revealed by screening tests so that goals can be set and progress | |
| measured. Other physical requirements include healthy food availability and opportunities for exercise. | ||
| Spiritual: Temptation, anxiety, addiction, hopelessness, lack of self-control, grief, emotional pain, grudges and guilt etc...are all factors that may | |
| discourage and impede moving on the journey to health and need to be addressed. |
A Cost-effective, Replicable and Sustainable Approach..
HIV testing supplies
Newly trained Health Builders stand with their
health kits.
health kits.
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About Us
