“CMMB focuses on partnerships, focuses on relationships, focuses on the community, to try and create healthier behaviors, healthier lives, healthier families.”

Richard Statuto, President & CEO, Bon Secours Health System

As a corporate partner and CMMB board member, Bon Secours Health System President and CEO Rich Statuto is very familiar with our CHAMPS initiative (Children And Mothers Partnerships). The CHAMPS model is founded on the transformative role of women in their communities, and the potential for children to shape their own futures.

In October, Rich was one of several of CMMB partners to participate in Immersion Week in Zambia. Partners witnessed our programs in action: first, in the capital city of Lusaka and its surrounding areas, and then in rural Mwandi, about two hours by car from Livingstone on rough roads. Partners had the opportunity to engage with representatives from the Zambian Ministry of Health, local hospital administrators, community healthcare workers, CMMB staff and beneficiaries.

Rich explained, “CMMB means what the slogan is: healthier lives worldwide. I’ve seen it now in Peru in three different locations, I’ve seen it in several locations in Zambia, and in spring I will be visiting Haiti. Being in Zambia was an amazing experience. The people are wonderful, hospitable, but I saw a lot of poverty and needs in the community that tugged at my heart strings and really made me appreciative of everything that I have, and to be a part of CMMB.”

“What I really appreciate about CMMB is that they have created deep partnerships in the community and they actively listen to the residents. And when they listen to the residents, they deeply engage them in the solutions, so it isn’t just CMMB coming to provide programs and services.  CMMB gets the community to be part of the solution, part of the care givers, part of the educators and I think it’s amazing.”

“I think health systems strengthening is an important part of overall health in the community. When we visited the Mwandi Mission Hospital, we couldn’t help but notice that the equipment is old. One of the things I’d like to do going back to the states, is to engage my colleagues who run other health systems with an inventory list of the equipment needs, and to try to find those within our own systems and get them out to Zambia and Mwandi Mission Hospital.”

“I love the focus on the mother and child, and the wonderful way we’re going about it. I think we’re addressing all the critical social determinants that are important for a healthy mom and baby.  ”

We asked Rich to talk about his Immersion Week experiences in Zambia:

 

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