By Casey Neill
Dandenong health professionals are teaming up with Afghan community leaders to tackle health issues.
Enliven Victoria, in Robinson Street, received $40,000 from the State Government’s Capacity Building and Participation (CBP) Program.
It will use the cash to implement the Afghan Community Strengthening to Improve Health and Well-being project.
Enliven refugee health program manager Dr I-Hao Cheng said the funding was for two years.
“Without it we would only be able to do a small piece of work, I think,” he said.
“It’s helped us to leverage additional funds.
“Importantly, we’re going to apply a sustainability lens over the entire two years so that hopefully by the end of two years we’ll have a sustainable model that’s delivered beyond that.”
Dr Cheng said the project would tackle access to health services, mental health issues and child health.
“The Afghan community doesn’t necessarily understand the best way of accessing appropriate health services for their needs,” he said.
“There’s a need to work with them, so they understand how to do that.”
He said many former refugees or asylum seekers suffered mental health issues relating to their experiences, including depression and anxiety.
In relation to child health, Dr Cheng said the project would focus on helping Afghan people to understand immunisations and the importance of child development.
“We’re working with a number of Afghan community leaders and community volunteers, and together we’re going to refine a curriculum and health-related messages and together deliver that to the Afghan community in Afghan community languages,” he said.
“I want to thank the Afghan community and a large number of stakeholder organisations for supporting this work, and of course the Victorian Multicultural Commission.”
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said seven groups were successful in their bids for funding grants under the new CBP Program.
She said it provided grants ranging from $5000 to $230,000 for between one to four years, and that 250 successful applications from across the state would share $16 million.
“These grants will support our local projects and groups who work so hard to support our proudly multicultural community,” Ms Williams said.
“It will help us create a more inclusive and integrated community and build relationships between local government, service providers and the wider community.”
