Analysis of an AMREF Case Study

Introduction

Strategic thinking in literature involves several aspects and elements in the literary analysis. Those include elements such as the perspectives outlined and illustrated, the timely thinking involved in the construction of the text, intent focus on the subject matter, intelligent opportunism geared towards the subject and the relativity to the hypothesis as per the given evaluation. In the text 'involving communities in their health", the author engages different aspects of social development that were addressed in the study. It also includes different pieces of evidence of healthy public policy and the systems of development for health and social related programming. The exercise involved looking at the various elements and aspects as outlined above as well as checking for information that stands out and which may be applied in the local community.

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Our case study involved the efforts of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) working in Kenya with the Maasai community to improve the community health and its networks across the African continent. In our case study, the author of the literary piece highlighting the working of the AMREF organization in Kenya engages different aspects of strategic thinking in formulating the article. The author's perspective is shown in different sections of the article. The overall perspective is that the efforts of the AMREF organization has contributed immensely in the reduction of diseases such as trachoma in the African country especially among the Maasai community of the Rift Valley since its inception, with cases dropping from a high rate of 48% to 6% in the years that the organization has been active in the region. Perspective is defined as the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface to give the right impression of their co-relation and position about each other, or more simplistically the attitude that one has about something. The author in this text paints the picture of a debilitated African country that is full of diseases and little disregard to health among the communities involved in the study that eventually drive cases of preventable diseases higher than it normally should. While it is a possible scenario in the African continent especially among the involved community, the African continent of today has made giant leaps in catching up with the modern world that the case scenario could be considered to be leaning on the Western world's view of the African continent than it might actually be on the ground (Horwath, 2014).

Timely thinking on the part of the author of the article is evident on how they articulate their views and the impact of the AMREF organization's work on the African continent and especially in the communities' response to its services. The author tells us that even though many challenges are involved in the work of the AMREF organization across the African continent, their impact is seen and felt within a timely manner as per the case of the Maasai community where the health efforts have realized a step towards their goal within a short period of only four years. The author also gives us a glimpse of the Maasai culture where women and children are forced to sleep on the floor where there could be greater chances of infection due to the numerous organisms that crawl there and therefore an increased chance for contamination. This concept as explained by the author is the current existing norm in the community, therefore promptly highlighting their awareness.

The intent focus is demonstrated in the article by the author's focus on the mission and aims of the AMREF organization in the African continent. The writer points out the mission of the organization as being the recognition in "creating vibrant networks of informed communities that work with empowered health workers in stronger health systems, we aim to ensure every African has access to the good health which is theirs by right. Throughout the text, the author takes us through the means that the organization works to attain this goal. Furthermore, the author gives the examples of progress that the organization has attained towards the set mission such as the reduction of trachoma incidences among the Maasai community from 48 to 6 percent over four years of activity in the country and among working with the community. The success of the AMREF organization also extends to services to schools including universities, the environment, and culture, where the author stipulates have seen a change from the original status it was before the setting up of the organization. The authors' focus is intently on the exploits and successes of the AMREF organization on the continent about its aims and goals so far, which he terms as an example for the world.

Intelligent thinking is defined as well informed thinking in relations to a subject of focus. The subject focus in the article was the efforts of the AMREF foundation in bringing a change in Africa in matters health, which the author articulates in a very well thought out and organized manner. Those include the organization of the AMREF foundation in its operations in the process of working towards its goals and aims. The author demonstrates intelligent thinking in linking the aims of the organization with the organizations' achievements thus far with the Kenyan community of the Maasai where the organization has been based over the years dispensing its operations. This is however negated by the author's views on the lifestyle of the Maasai community which he describes as people that sleep on contaminated floors and who live with swarms of flies around their faces. This view is not a true reflection of the African country in the 21st century even though the aspects might be experienced in minimal instances and during unavoidable circumstances.

Apart from the elements of strategic thinking, the author also presents various aspects of social development. Those are mostly health related by the aims and goals of the AMREF organization in the country they are vested in. Those aspects are in line with the social development aspects of the modern day in regards to family and political aspects. Some of these include the modernization of the Maasai where the author gives a perspective of a change in the traditional culture that was resistant to western ways and medicine due to cultural beliefs to the grasping of the same health and medicine by the community, which has helped it to reduce the incidences of diseases among them. This is in line to the global aims of the 21st century and demonstrates a change of cultural beliefs precipitated by the AMREF organization among the community. Democracy is another aspect of social development that the author brings to our focus through the article. The cultivation of democracy in the community's culture is entrenched in the ability of women to express themselves and drive for social change and a diversion from the cultural norms that expose women and children to infectious disease including those that the organization is fighting against.

The article also portrays evidence of healthy public policy in different ways. An example is a shift in cultural ways to modern ways and adoption of modern means of living in the community involved ("Strengthening health systems: the role and promise of policy and systems research," 2004). Water, sanitation, and hygiene have tremendously improved in the community of focus to the effect that reduced cases of diseases have been realized by the organization and to a level that can be commended in the modern world, all in the span of four years of activity in the region. The organization through its research and implementation policy has been abler to deal with trachoma infections among the Maasai community in a commendable manner.

In the article, we can also deduce evidence of systems development for health and social policy in that the AMREF organization is willing to undertake research at its own expense, albeit from funding by willing donors, and implement their research findings and recommendations in a country and community that serves them little if any material gain for their troubles. The fact that they are also willing to risk the lives of its employees and social standing with the community to change its cultural values and modernize the community is evidence of its development of systems for social policy in the community ("Strengthening health systems: the role and promise of policy and systems research", 2004). Furthermore, the success that the organization has achieved in reducing preventable infectious diseases in the Maasai community bringing the cases to less than 10 percent is evidence enough of the efficiency of the developed systems in working towards the desired goals and aims of the organization.

In the article, the information that stood out the most was the AMREF foundation's rigor and determination in helping the disadvantaged Maasai community of Kenya, which is among the minority population in the country, to improve the health, social and cultural values despite the challenges that it encounters. The fact that they have been able to assert their presence in the region using positive steps towards their global aims and goals in a community and achieve positive results is a big motivator to the general population as far as charity is concerned. No doubt, the organization encounters several challenges that would easily make a light-hearted person to lose their interest and retreat to the comfort of their developed countries or at worst give up and pursue other personal interests. The organization has held its ground and even aims to expand its reach to other less fortunate countries and promote their health policies and goals. This in itself is a motivator to the general public and individuals to strive to be a better person and help those in need whichever way possible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the writer has been able to engage different aspects in the presentation including strategic thinking through different means as discussed in the text. They were also able to address social development as well as provide evidence of the healthy public policy of the AMREF organization as seen in the discussion and even present systems of social and health development articulately. The work of the AMREF organization in the Maasai community is a motivating factor for people in the modern world to strive to assist in bringing modernization in the disadvantaged African countries through any means they possibly could.

References

Horwath, R. (2014). The Strategic Thinking Manifesto. Retrieved from https://www.strategyskills.com/pdf/The-Strategic-Thinking Manifesto.pdf?gclid=CIaV2fG0v88CFcVlfgodSBUM8A

Strengthening health systems: the role and promise of policy and systems research. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/resources/Strengthening_complet.pdf