International Cardiovascular Health Alliance (ICHA)

Mission

The mission of ICHA is to fill the void that currently exists in the global health landscape by promoting cardiovascular health through education of community health workers, community organizers, and individuals in under-resourced settings.

History

In 2006, Sujatha Sankaran was working in a remote fishing village in Western Africa. As the sole volunteer physician working at a clinic serving a population of almost fifty thousand, Dr. Sankaran witnessed the dramatic effects of untreated strokes, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease in a setting where nurses had neither the training nor the resources to treat such illnesses. Recognizing that there were few non-profit organizations aimed at developing world cardiovascular disease prevention through community-based programs, Dr. Sankaran joined with attorney Nikka Rapkin to launch ICHA in early 2008.

Structure and Operation

ICHA, created less than a year ago, has a membership of approximately forty individuals across the country. The organization is led by Sujatha Sankaran and Nikka Rapkin, co-founders. The core principle of ICHA is that education is vital to empower communities to make fundamental health choices. ICHA's model is that of community-based education, screening, and intervention programs. ICHA does not directly deliver medical care, but instead works with local communities to create culturally-specific initiatives. ICHA attempts to create sustainable change through population-based strategies of behavior modification. Such programs include exercise groups and healthful cooking classes created and operated by members of the local community. ICHA's first global outreach will take place in the West African nation of Ghana in September 2009.

External Links

The International Cardiovascular Health Alliance