Catholic providers share resources to ease world health problems

Organizations like the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have created systems to respond to the daunting problems of malnutrition and disease throughout the world. Such systems include UNICEF's GOBI program and the World Health Organization's Health for All plan. U.S. healthcare administrators have been slow to join in these efforts. They are preoccupied with trying to financially sustain their organizations in a technologically and bureaucratically complex society and find it difficult to feel responsible for other countries' health needs. Nevertheless, Catholic healthcare providers have joined the international efforts in a number of ways. Some have initiated programs to address a specific need for a limited period, and others have made long-term commitments to specific foreign communities. But most of these projects are limited, ad hoc efforts. A number of challenges face Catholic healthcare providers. They must continue to respond to specific needs, establish institutional links with organizations abroad to address longer-term needs, and use their professional and political leverage to influence structural changes to get at the root of chronic health problems in poor countries.