The Christian Health Association of Sudan (CHAS) is an initiative that was conceived by the Sudan Council of Churches as far back as 2002. Although NSCC had the idea of establishing CHAS as early as 2002 it’s not until mid-2003 when the idea began to crystallize by moving the position and role of Health Desk to CEAS by September 2004. The NSCC Health Desk had engaged in activities of various committees of the Secretariat of Health (SOH) and supported a number of Christian health care programmes with technical support, budget proposals, financial management, the provision of medical supplies (in collaboration with UNICEF) and HIV/AIDS capacity building. The task to facilitate the establishment of CHAS became more visible in 2004 with technical and financial support from ICCO and later EED and Caritas Australia.
SCC with the support of its partners entrusted CEAS to host and provide technical facilitation for nurturing CHAS to maturity of a fully fledged organization. The envisaged goal was to evolve CHAS from a network of Christian health organizations into a legally registered entity that functions fully as a Health development arm of the now Sudan Council of Churches.
The vision and mission statements of CHAS that are drawn from the healing ministry of Christ and are currently stated as follows:
VISION Statement
A health service for all the people of Sudan that is holistic, equitable and sustainable and of high quality
MISSION Statement
To strengthen the capacity of its members in the provision of health services in partnership with communities and the concerned Ministry of Health, for all the people of Sudan.
Institutionalization of CHAS
Basing on the organizational progressive development continuum measures that are applied on any emergent institution like CHAS, CHAS has demonstrated and reached a stage where capacity and potential for successful growth is evident in the following institutional capacity areas:
- Administrative and Support Function; in that CHAS in the last one year has attracted and been able to raise funding for its programs, has managed to recruit and deploy competent staff and managed other resources
- Technical and Program Function: service to CHAS members has commenced, and addition a CHAS strategic plan was developed and is being implemented, results based monitoring has been introduced and the technical capacity to undertake the scope is gradually expanding
- Structural and Cultural Function: where by the organizational identity has been created not only among CHAS proprietors (thus Sudan Churches) but also recognized by government, CHAS’s vision, mission and strategic focus has been articulated, leadership established and governance bodies are in the making and external relations within Sudan gaining strength
The process that has been undertaken in institutionalizing CHAS has carefully fostered three major core values and elements of sustainability:
- Clarifying CHAS’ mandate as was envisaged by the founder bodies
- Creating a sense of ownership by increasing participation of the local churches in; its formation, planning for and providing value for associating for CHAS members
- Fostering creation of partnerships between the membership but also with government and various development agencies
Coordination and Management
Management and coordination of CHAS is at the moment through a secretariat based in Juba. The main function of the secretariat is to provide managerial and technical leadership. Leadership in: representing CHAS in all its partnerships with donors and governments; facilitating institutionalization of CHAS to a status of a registered organization; technical leadership in mapping the CHAS agenda, and; technical leadership in mobilizing resources for the set agenda.
Functions of the secretariat includes activities like: organizing coordination meetings with partners, participation in policy discussions, strategic planning sessions and coordination meeting with GOSS, Sudan NGO forum; organizing planning sessions with partners; carrying out various assessments to analyze institutional capacities as well as to learn of the status and situation in the management of service delivery and programs; preparing appropriate plans; documenting progress; mobilizing resources; and fulfill contractual obligation to account for both results and finances to the various stakeholders including donors.
CHAS Commitment to Key Principles
Operations of CHAS will be guided by a number of principles for it to remain true to its overall mission, these include:
Inclusiveness – Supporting program designs and implementation strategies which serve every member within target communities regardless of creed, age, gender or political affiliation
Result-Oriented: – adopting cost-effective strategic management approaches in the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the programs it supports. This will be a critical tool for allocating resources rationally, tracking progress, demonstrating impact and holding each member accountable.
Integration: Mainstreaming CHAS supported initiatives into existing planning processes, coordination mechanisms, structures rather than introducing new things
Distinct Identity: be rooted in the ecumenical mission of SCC but operate as an independent legal entity
Be part of Government Health Agenda: Harmonize with and support program strategies and implementation approaches that are in line with Government strategic frameworks
Capacity Building: utilize local resources and strengthen or build local capacity for continuity
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