sustainability from a christian perspective - doug fountain
TRANSCRIPT
Sustainability from a Christian Perspective
Doug Fountain
CCIH
June 17, 2016
For the record:
Sustainability in your marriage is forgetting to bring a tie and knowing better than to NOT beg your wife to send one to you by Fed Ex.
So this is proof that I do, in fact, own a tie.
This is what the Lord Almighty said: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one
another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.”
Zechariah 7:8-10
To whom does this apply:
Past peoples?
Our current generation?
The future?
Imagine you all spent the next 10 minutes talking to each other about sustainability
rather than listening to me.
Faith Based Organizations are more sustainable because they outlast many
governments and donor-driven programs.
I plan for sustainability in my grants, by promising to find local money after the grant
is over.
God gives us the inspiration and the resources. God sustains us.
Define sustainability
Sustainable development: meeting needs of people today without compromising the
ability of people to meet their own needs in the future.
Define sustainability in health
Delivering high quality care and improved public health
Improving lives, for generations to come
Personal commitment to promote health
I would add: Partnering locally and supporting initiatives that by definition outlast partner
involvement.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
• 17 goals
• 169 targets
• 300+ indicators
• Intended to draw focus and coalesce action
• Criticisms: “Not enough Health” or “Not enough FBO reference” or “They don’t affirm values such as compassion, love, generosity, sacrifice.”
Certainly Complex!
Good Health and Well Being
• Maternal mortality
• Newborn/<5 mortality
• AIDS, TB, malaria, NTDs
• Non-communicable diseases
• Substance abuse
• Road traffic accidents
• Reproductive health
• Universal coverage, access
• Hazardous chemicals
• Tobacco Control
• R&D Vaccines/Medicines
• Health workforce dev’t
• Risk reduction
Health “Related” SDGs
Zero hunger
Clean water and sanitation
Sustainable cities and communities
Peace, justice and strong institutions
Partnerships for the goals
2
6
11
16
17
We should be familiar with the SDGs, and reflect them in our plans and goals.
But will that make our work together “sustainable”?
What makes us think something is sustainable?
We believe in our hearts
We can measure it
We can see the effects of it
We have faith - God called us to it
The challenge is – sometimes our work looks like this:
Go it alone strategies
One off strategies
Externally imposed strategies
Experimental approaches that can’t be tested
Technologies that work in the USA
Gap filling
What threatens sustainability?
Disaster
Distraction
Diversion
Dereliction
Dependence
World Economic Forum:Sustainable Health Systems
Anticipate more empowered patients, diverse delivery models, new stakeholders. We will confront tough questions like:
• Will individuals share population health risks?
• Where will authority be located: national, supranational, local?
• Will innovation come from within or outside the system?
• Will people accept active influence over individual lifestyles?
• Will healthy living be a minority choice, a civic duty or an aspiration?
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_SustainableHealthSystems_Report_2013.pdf
Attributes of an aligned and sustainable health approach
• Data driven – “accountable to best practices”
• Build local ownership and influence
• Promote behavior change –empowered to enact improvements in one’s own health
• Integrate education, research and service• Professional education
• General education
Health System Strengthening
Community-Based
Prevention and Care
What do we add as Christians?
Dignity
Ethics
Compassion
Holistic
Transformation
Stewardship
This, on top of what we receive because of our faith: divine guidance and the never ending opportunity for
healing and renewal
What do we add as Christians?
A narrative – a fundamental story line, an epic plotthat makes sense out of our journey together.
Through Christ, we offer hope and grace for a world that is hurting.
And that, I think, is sustainable health.