The International Community for relief of starvation and suffering works with tribal groups to find long term solutions to poverty and disease.
Our teams and planners are from the communities. Our public health research has made a contribution to International health for thirty years. ICROSS strives to constantly improve its programmes and the way in which we work. We are constantly improving our operations and management.
ICROSS is an International development organization that was founded to bring about lasting changes in health. We work closely with communities, civil society and partners in building long term health care. We are establishing new support groups in other countries as part of our International strategy.
While our Strategic plan details our corporate governance there are key areas of governance that we are prioritising in 2011-2016.
Vision
Our long term strategy as outlined in our five year plan embrace the vision and aspirations of the Millennium development goals building on the values, leadership and cultural structures of African people. The vision of ICROSS places emphasis on the National development framework developed in Africa by Africans.
Africanisation
We are proud that since 2001 all ICROSS programmes were completely managed by Africans. All project managers, supervisors, trainers, field teams and community staff are African. While these teams provide learning opportunities for Intern and volunteer partnerships, the Africanisation of all projects has been a vital component of the success and continuity of the programmes.
Gender
ICROSS is an equal opportunities NGO. As part of our Gender policy, we have actively recruited women into senior management positions. The majority of Project managers and field co ordinators are women, the great majority of field staff are women. ICROSS focuses all its core programme development on gender.
Ownership
Programmes are not owned or driven by donors but by local communities.
Whose Reality
As part of corporate accountability ICROSS places the beliefs, values, cultural structures and hopes of the local people at the centre of planning, decision making and planning. With a strong inclusion policy and partnership in local language we work towards programmes that have their roots in local communities.
Transparency
As part of our policy of accountability to our donors ICROSS continually strives to improve its financial systems and procedures.
With rural projects scattered across geographical areas larger than Ireland there are challenges to ensure best practices and accountability of resources in Africa. ICROSS and our donors undertake frequent internal and external audits with Annual external audits or all programmes.
As part of continual improvements and strengthening of the organization, we conducted external organization and management reviews and have recently commissioned a comprehensive financial review of all financial systems, structures procedures and operations.
Our commitment is to best practices of transparency and collective accountability. ICROSS insists on the highest standards from its entire staff as well as ensuring due diligence and the highest work ethics. Our code of conduct is based upon international gold standards and ensures not only equality and ethics but transparency and integrity.
External audits and comprehensive financial records are available to partners including Governments through our national offices.
Management
Apart of corporate governance ICROSS continues to profesionalise and strengthen its management teams. All management of field programmes is executed by senior staff with at least ten years operational field experience. We are in the process of reviewing management structures in the face of recent expansion of all programmes.
Staff
We have a staff policy based upon the local regulations, laws and norms. ICROSS is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on any grounds.
Advice & Consultation
ICROSS has a team of advisors and skilled specialists that it regularly consults on specific areas of International development. All advisors have at least a decade of experience working in underdeveloped countries while most are currently in operational settings. All ICROSS advisors are highly qualified specialists in their field of expertise with the latest knowledge and information.
This helps ICROSS in its strategic planning and evidence based strategic development.
As part of its international collaboration and team , work ICROSS designs all its international research in close partnership with peer review collaborators.
More Information is Available Concerning Our Corporate Governance
In developing our corporate policies we seek to create a dynamic forward-looking organisation that will be able to respond to emerging challenges and needs in a rapidly changing world. Together with our partners, we are moving forward embracing new ideas and innovative approaches, learning from the wisdom and experience of the past. We are building on evidence and introducing fresh, exciting ideas and directions. Our vision of a better world inspires us, our mission focuses us, and our shared goals unite us. With effective planning, transparency, and clear direction, we will be able to really create lasting change. As part of this process our international advisory board is made up of a wide range of professionals across many disciplines.
http://icrossinternational.org/
www.icross-africa.net
http://icrosskenya.org/
http://icrossprojects.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/ICROSSprojects
Philip Sironka
Head Communication ICROSS
We are a small international organisation working to fight poverty and disease in the poorest parts of the world. For over 25 years we have worked with tribes in East Africa fighting disease. Health professionals work with local communities in long term development and health programmes.
ICROSS works with the resources, capabilities and capacities of poor marginalised communities seeking to strengthen their capacity to improve their own health and livelihoods through the rights based approaches of participation, inclusion and community empowerment processes. ICROSS has fully documented its vast experience in disease prevention and control amongst these disadvantaged communities. This experience is informing national and international best practice on critical areas such as HIV/AIDS prevention, home-based care for those infected with HIV/AIDS and succession planning for orphans and vulnerable children.
Our values include living as equals among those we work with and for, learning their languages and culture, inculcating a respect for diversity of beliefs and dedicating ourselves to long-term commitment to the poor, those who are socially excluded and those who are victims of social injustice.
People in the communities are empowered to take full responsibility for the changes and developments that drive the development of ICROSS. Community participation starts right from needs identification through implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Communities, families and individuals are involved in all decisions that impact, however remotely, upon their lives.
ICROSS believes that the most effective vehicle for development work is the communities' own belief systems and traditions. People have the right to choose and the right to plan their own future, consequently, anthropological research is a key part of our work.
ICROSS Concept
ICROSS is much more than just an organisation working in Africa. ICROSS is a concept, an idea, a set of values, which is shared and advocated by a large and evolving international community. The three decades ICROSS has operated in Africa has taught us the importance of these values and in a world where political, religious and socio-economic agendas play an ever more important role in the aid industry, ICROSS has uniquely, and with instinct, refrained from giving up its values and beliefs.
The values of ICROSS derive from something as simple as caring for our brothers and sisters; assist them out of and prevent them from suffering, without an agenda other than genuinely wanting to assist. We assist them through their own people, their languages, their traditions and existing political and belief systems with a sincere admiration and respect for their cultures.
By listening to the people whom we assist and develop programmes according to their needs and in their presence, rather than our wishes in an office far from their reality, the communities we serve, gain a sense of ownership. This is a real ownership not a donor driven or foreign idea. The feeling of ownership is crucial in any development work; it reduces possible constraints and limitations of a programme and ensures success, cost effectiveness and more importantly sustainability. ICROSS assists communities to facilitate themselves out of affliction.
ICROSS has over the years, scientifically shown, that what we do works. Our values and evidence based approach has ensured that even as a small, bottom-up, grass-root operating organisation, we have gained international respect among politicians, religious leaders, and academics around the world, who among thousands of others, make up the international community of ICROSS. ICROSS actually has the poor, donors and Government represented on our board of Directors, it is transparent and shares new ideas.
This international community is the driving force behind ICROSS as an idea. The humanitarian work of ICROSS stretches far beyond our programmes in Africa. ICROSS is within anyone who genuinely wants to care and assist others with love, respect and understanding. ICROSS as an idea is growing dynamically and with your help could reach more people.
Disclaimer
This is the official web site of the International Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering. ICROSS is a Kenyan based International NGO founded by Dr Michael Meegan. The projects, research, initiatives and work are operated, managed and run by ICROSS Kenya.
This web site, its contents, programmes and images are the sole property of ICROSS Kenya and no other entity by the same name has any involvement or ownership of these programmes or this web site.
.
Please note that all partners, stakeholders and International Advisory board as well as the co-founder Dr. J Barnes working with ICROSS Kenya have no association with any other entity in regard to our programmes or this web site. All reports, research, publications, information and data available are the sole property of and represents ICROSS Kenya and no other entity. No other person or persons may present or claim any of this material or data.
Contact Us
Address
ICROSS International Head Office
ICROSS, PO 507 Ngong Hills, Kenya
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Extending safe motherhood programmes ICROSS August 2011
As we extend our Rural health programmes ICROSS extends all its
clinics. Inyonyori has served the communities in Maasailand for 25
years This picture shows the new wing which will be used as part of
the Mother and child care and the child survival programmes. As we
develop the primary health interventions and disease control we are
increasing the numbers of health personnel at all ICROSS clinics. In
this, the largest expansion on health services since 1997 we hope to
double our field capacity by 2014.
At the centre of the ICROSS strategic plan is Mother and child health,
reproductive health, comprehensive safe motherhood and long term
changes in malnutrition and water resources. Together with all our
friends, colleagues and partners we are building a long term health
programme that will make a lasting impact in the lives of the
communities we serve.
ICROSS Nurses and womens group leaders joined other organisations and
community groups yesterday at the District health planning forum. As
ICROSS prepares for the challenges of the drought , we are working
closely with Government and tribal leaders to put support systems in
place. Our partners in Kenya and Europe are working hard to put in
place the resources needed to reach those most in need.
The Entasat said "We need women around the World to share our journey
and work with us to help in these times of such suffering for our
mothers and children" Field project leader OleMakeseer added that "
It is hard for people to understand the extreme poverty endured in
this time, without food and water, many of our people enduring
unimagined hardship and poverty".
Speaking from Inyonyori the International Director said " the future
remains community owned planning, locally driven priorities, our great
success over the last thirty years is working through the culture and
values of the communities, that how we have survived over the decades,
by living among th communities as part of them. We are proud that long
before community participation became a fad in the mid 1990s, we were
implementing local ownership and decision making" Michael Meegan went
on to say that " We are not passing through, our teams , managers,
nurses are from the communities, this is the only way that will work
long term" More on http://icrossprojects.blogspot.com/ and
http://twitter.com/#!/ICROSSprojects
clinics. Inyonyori has served the communities in Maasailand for 25
years This picture shows the new wing which will be used as part of
the Mother and child care and the child survival programmes. As we
develop the primary health interventions and disease control we are
increasing the numbers of health personnel at all ICROSS clinics. In
this, the largest expansion on health services since 1997 we hope to
double our field capacity by 2014.
At the centre of the ICROSS strategic plan is Mother and child health,
reproductive health, comprehensive safe motherhood and long term
changes in malnutrition and water resources. Together with all our
friends, colleagues and partners we are building a long term health
programme that will make a lasting impact in the lives of the
communities we serve.
ICROSS Nurses and womens group leaders joined other organisations and
community groups yesterday at the District health planning forum. As
ICROSS prepares for the challenges of the drought , we are working
closely with Government and tribal leaders to put support systems in
place. Our partners in Kenya and Europe are working hard to put in
place the resources needed to reach those most in need.
The Entasat said "We need women around the World to share our journey
and work with us to help in these times of such suffering for our
mothers and children" Field project leader OleMakeseer added that "
It is hard for people to understand the extreme poverty endured in
this time, without food and water, many of our people enduring
unimagined hardship and poverty".
Speaking from Inyonyori the International Director said " the future
remains community owned planning, locally driven priorities, our great
success over the last thirty years is working through the culture and
values of the communities, that how we have survived over the decades,
by living among th communities as part of them. We are proud that long
before community participation became a fad in the mid 1990s, we were
implementing local ownership and decision making" Michael Meegan went
on to say that " We are not passing through, our teams , managers,
nurses are from the communities, this is the only way that will work
long term" More on http://icrossprojects.blogspot.com/ and
http://twitter.com/#!/ICROSSprojects
ICROSS health teams awarded at Kajiado District health forum July 28 2011
Today ICROSS Kenya was awarded the "Best Nurse award" and the "Most dedicated Nurse"award. These were both awarded to Rose Gitau who is the nurse in charge at the Ronan Conroy clinic in Sinkiraine. Despite multiple challenges ICROSS is extending its community and primary health services in 2011-2012. The Dr Joe Barnes Clinic at Longosua was also recognised at the District conference. ICROSS is working throughout all its health programmes to increase immunisation and child survival. As famine spreads children under five are increasingly vulnerable to diarrhoeal infection, dehydration and severe malnutrition.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Emergency Famine Appeal August 2011
ICROSS Emergency Famine Appeal August 2011
Worsening drought, spreading poverty and growing unrest have added to failure of rains in East Africa. This has led to worsening famine in much of East Africa. This famine is deteriorating. ICROSS has been fighting famine and poverty for thirty years in East Africa., Our first famine was in 1983-85.
But this is the worst drought in 60 years in many parts of Africa with more than 10 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and the newly-formed Republic of South Sudan face starvation, desperately needing water and emergency healthcare.
The International Director Dr Michael Meegan said today “ Our project teams and health staff are committed in the long term to follow-up and ongoing primary care as well as this crisis. “ He added “ the rise of serious cases of malnutrition, diarrhoeal infections and deteriorating health of whole communities is an urgent concern for us all”.
Head of programmes Sarune OleLengeny said today “We were here through many dissaters and problems, we will continue serving the communities hit by these tragedies in the long term. All of us will be here God willing for the next thirty years” POleLasoi added “ ICROSS is made up of the local communities, we are the people affected, we live in the drought areas , in the middle of the increasing humanitarian crisis . We have been working here for decades. As always, we at ICROSS have been here long before the crisis started and still here long after the media leave.”
Please help by :-
Contacting us directly or by donating on line , no matter how small , every cent counts . Please donate by clicking on
A. http://www.icross-africa.net/ or
B. https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=y0ApSsBgpgauToQxhN0CklatV6LsV9mlTL_tIvw27Srlg9tpeRF5xXnQP3y&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d1e83f46a36995b3856cef1e18897ad75
C. Visiting our online store http://www.icross-africa.net/#!__store
Worsening drought, spreading poverty and growing unrest have added to failure of rains in East Africa. This has led to worsening famine in much of East Africa. This famine is deteriorating. ICROSS has been fighting famine and poverty for thirty years in East Africa., Our first famine was in 1983-85.
But this is the worst drought in 60 years in many parts of Africa with more than 10 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and the newly-formed Republic of South Sudan face starvation, desperately needing water and emergency healthcare.
The International Director Dr Michael Meegan said today “ Our project teams and health staff are committed in the long term to follow-up and ongoing primary care as well as this crisis. “ He added “ the rise of serious cases of malnutrition, diarrhoeal infections and deteriorating health of whole communities is an urgent concern for us all”.
Head of programmes Sarune OleLengeny said today “We were here through many dissaters and problems, we will continue serving the communities hit by these tragedies in the long term. All of us will be here God willing for the next thirty years” POleLasoi added “ ICROSS is made up of the local communities, we are the people affected, we live in the drought areas , in the middle of the increasing humanitarian crisis . We have been working here for decades. As always, we at ICROSS have been here long before the crisis started and still here long after the media leave.”
Please help by :-
Contacting us directly or by donating on line , no matter how small , every cent counts . Please donate by clicking on
A. http://www.icross-africa.net/ or
B. https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=y0ApSsBgpgauToQxhN0CklatV6LsV9mlTL_tIvw27Srlg9tpeRF5xXnQP3y&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d1e83f46a36995b3856cef1e18897ad75
C. Visiting our online store http://www.icross-africa.net/#!__store
Monday, July 25, 2011
Reflections Michael Meegan
"Everything changes when you wake up in the morning and decide to own today. It will not be taken from you by anyone else, it will be yours"
Michael Meegan, Changing the World
www.michaelmeegan.net
www.eye-books.com
"When we feel overwhelmed by all the suffering in the world, or just drained by the stress of the day, do this. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and know that the very breath you are taking is the same miracle of life that pervades all creation. He who gives you this breath, despite your anxieties, fears and pain, knows you. He knows you better than you will ever understand yourself. Breathe in, breathe out. You are experiencing the miracle. The most amazing miracle of all. The gift of life. All things will find harmony in this knowing, in this, is the whisper of not only all creation, but of the Creator"
Michael Meegan
"Your energy is powered by your thoughts, negative thoughts drain you, loving thoughts fill you with love"
Michael Meegan, The Tribe of one
www.eye-books.com
" when we really know ourselves, we forgive always"
Michael Meegan
ALL WILL BE WELL
www.eye-books.com
" If you really want to know who your friends are, see you stands by you in a storm"
Mike Meegan
" Remind yourself of your vision, keep your hopes close yo your heart, be passionate about them and alwaus, always always be true to them"
Michael Meegan
Changing the World
" The most important language of personal joy is the often complex linguistics of silence"
Michael Meegan
ALL WILL BE WELL
www.eye-books.com
Michael Meegan, Changing the World
www.michaelmeegan.net
www.eye-books.com
"When we feel overwhelmed by all the suffering in the world, or just drained by the stress of the day, do this. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and know that the very breath you are taking is the same miracle of life that pervades all creation. He who gives you this breath, despite your anxieties, fears and pain, knows you. He knows you better than you will ever understand yourself. Breathe in, breathe out. You are experiencing the miracle. The most amazing miracle of all. The gift of life. All things will find harmony in this knowing, in this, is the whisper of not only all creation, but of the Creator"
Michael Meegan
"Your energy is powered by your thoughts, negative thoughts drain you, loving thoughts fill you with love"
Michael Meegan, The Tribe of one
www.eye-books.com
" when we really know ourselves, we forgive always"
Michael Meegan
ALL WILL BE WELL
www.eye-books.com
" If you really want to know who your friends are, see you stands by you in a storm"
Mike Meegan
" Remind yourself of your vision, keep your hopes close yo your heart, be passionate about them and alwaus, always always be true to them"
Michael Meegan
Changing the World
" The most important language of personal joy is the often complex linguistics of silence"
Michael Meegan
ALL WILL BE WELL
www.eye-books.com
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Culturally-based health promotion programmes Ronán M Conroy a Corresponding AuthorEmail Address, Michael Elmore-Meegan a
Culturally-based health promotion programmes
Ronán M Conroy a Corresponding AuthorEmail Address, Michael Elmore-Meegan a
Authors' reply
Sir—Our research was not run as a prospective study. Mortality data for the control areas were extracted from records by the Kenyan Ministry of Health at our request in 1999, when we were collating and analysing the records of the ICROSS traditional birth attendant programme. The control areas were not left without a traditional birth attendant programme as part of a controlled experiment. Rather, they had no programme because the Ministry of Health had neither the resources nor the expertise to launch and maintain such programmes.
The ICROSS programme, which is run in partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, is supported by the Irish and Danish Governments. ICROSS has made several attempts to secure funding to extend the traditional birth attendant programme to other areas in Kenya, but to date these have been unsuccessful. Many bilateral donors have shifted funds away from supporting primary healthcare, perhaps partly because of lack of evidence that such support really improves community health. We hope that our results will help to highlight the untapped potential that is represented by the traditional healers and birth attendants in communities in less-developed countries. Rather than simply attempting to provide such communities with health services along more-developed-world lines, we should, in parallel, be developing and supporting the communities' indigenous health services.
a Department of Biostatistics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 2, Ireland; and ICROSS Kenya, PO Box 506, Ngong, Kenya
Corresponding Author Information Department of Biostatistics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 2, Ireland
Access this article on SciVerse ScienceDirect
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News Women's groups in Kenya win small victory against female circumcision more information
Mechanisms of Disease A new NOS2 promoter polymorphism associated with increased nitric oxide production and protection from severe malaria in Tanzanian and Kenyan children more information
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Ronán M Conroy a Corresponding AuthorEmail Address, Michael Elmore-Meegan a
Authors' reply
Sir—Our research was not run as a prospective study. Mortality data for the control areas were extracted from records by the Kenyan Ministry of Health at our request in 1999, when we were collating and analysing the records of the ICROSS traditional birth attendant programme. The control areas were not left without a traditional birth attendant programme as part of a controlled experiment. Rather, they had no programme because the Ministry of Health had neither the resources nor the expertise to launch and maintain such programmes.
The ICROSS programme, which is run in partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, is supported by the Irish and Danish Governments. ICROSS has made several attempts to secure funding to extend the traditional birth attendant programme to other areas in Kenya, but to date these have been unsuccessful. Many bilateral donors have shifted funds away from supporting primary healthcare, perhaps partly because of lack of evidence that such support really improves community health. We hope that our results will help to highlight the untapped potential that is represented by the traditional healers and birth attendants in communities in less-developed countries. Rather than simply attempting to provide such communities with health services along more-developed-world lines, we should, in parallel, be developing and supporting the communities' indigenous health services.
a Department of Biostatistics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 2, Ireland; and ICROSS Kenya, PO Box 506, Ngong, Kenya
Corresponding Author Information Department of Biostatistics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin 2, Ireland
Access this article on SciVerse ScienceDirect
Article Options
Full Text
PDF (66 KB)
Printer Friendly Version
Request permission
Export Citation
Create Citation Alert
Linked Articles
Correspondence Culturally-based health promotion programmes more information
Other Articles of Interest
Newsdesk President of Kenya proposes sex ban more information
News Tobacco sponsored Kenyan media awards provokes anger more information
News Kenya's government tackles influx of sub-standard drugs more information
News Women's groups in Kenya win small victory against female circumcision more information
Mechanisms of Disease A new NOS2 promoter polymorphism associated with increased nitric oxide production and protection from severe malaria in Tanzanian and Kenyan children more information
Bookmark
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Clearing the Fields: Solutions to the Global Land Mines Crisis
Clearing the Fields: Solutions to the Global Land Mines Crisis
edited by Kevin M. Cahill, 237 pp, paper, $25, ISBN 0-465-01177-2, New York, NY, BasicBooks, 1995.
Michael K. Elmore-Meegan, BPhEccl, MSc, TCD, PhD
[+] Author Affiliations
International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS) Nyoonyorrie Mobile Unit Base Mbagathi, Kenya
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
The use of land mines has evolved from a predominantly defensive battlefield tactic designed to impede the movement of enemy artillery to an offensive weapon that terrorizes entire civilian populations. Clearing the Fields is the first serious attempt at exploring solutions and answers to a problem that kills hundreds of civilians every week around the world. Here is a book that should be read by every political and military decision maker.
Clearing the Fields is a rich source of up-to-date information. More than 100 million mines have been deployed in over 60 countries. In the former Yugoslavia an estimated 3 million mines have been planted without maps during the past four years, with 50 000 more hidden each week. In Cambodia one of every 253 people is an amputee. On average, antipersonnel mines can be bought for $10 to $20, with many available for less than $3. In contrast, it ...
edited by Kevin M. Cahill, 237 pp, paper, $25, ISBN 0-465-01177-2, New York, NY, BasicBooks, 1995.
Michael K. Elmore-Meegan, BPhEccl, MSc, TCD, PhD
[+] Author Affiliations
International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS) Nyoonyorrie Mobile Unit Base Mbagathi, Kenya
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
The use of land mines has evolved from a predominantly defensive battlefield tactic designed to impede the movement of enemy artillery to an offensive weapon that terrorizes entire civilian populations. Clearing the Fields is the first serious attempt at exploring solutions and answers to a problem that kills hundreds of civilians every week around the world. Here is a book that should be read by every political and military decision maker.
Clearing the Fields is a rich source of up-to-date information. More than 100 million mines have been deployed in over 60 countries. In the former Yugoslavia an estimated 3 million mines have been planted without maps during the past four years, with 50 000 more hidden each week. In Cambodia one of every 253 people is an amputee. On average, antipersonnel mines can be bought for $10 to $20, with many available for less than $3. In contrast, it ...
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