Blanche Angeline Pitt - Tanzania

African Medical and Research Foundation
Opening Access to Health Care by Including Rural Communities in Decision Making

Blanche grew up in a society where women had very little decision-making power in most aspects of their lives. This continued when she entered the working world where management positions were dominated by men and the inequality was exacerbated by the entrenched apartheid system which she experienced firsthand. These experiences increased her awareness of how systems and poor access to information and education can reinforce a community’s sense of helplessness and dependency. The African Medical Research Foundation’s goal is to ensure that every African can enjoy the right to good health. Poor rural communities, especially women and health workers, will benefit from the success of the project and their new found ability to advocate for access to services.
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