“Changing lives one village at a time”
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* Ben Hadaway

*   © 2004 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors

In some of the most remote regions of Tanzania, women give birth alone at home despite the availability of medical clinics. Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) is helping to change that — and in the process improve the infant mortality rate, which now stands at 104 death's per 1000 live births. 

![Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/)

[Figure1](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/170/8/1216.2/F1)

Figure. **Local people bring new resources and hope to Gelamock, Tanzania.** Photo by: Kevin O'Brien

CPAR's executive director recently returned from Tanzania's maternal/child health program, a cooperative venture with the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Canada. “We look at the root causes of problems,” says Kevin O'Brien.

CPAR encourages sustainable development at the grass roots level in 4 African countries ([www.cpar.ca](http://www.cpar.ca)). Its goal is to produce long-term results by training indigenous workers to help themselves. HIV/AIDS counselling staff are trained in Uganda, agricultural eduation is offered in Ethiopia and, in Malawi, local residents learn how to fight drought through soil and water conservation.

CPAR began when Dr. Mark Doidge responded to the waves of immigrants fleeing the 1984 famines in Ethiopia. Over the next 20 years, it expanded to Malawi, Uganda, and now Tanzania.

CPAR also educates Canadian children through a 10-lesson curriculum on building healthy communities and runs the Plant a Tree program in Africa. 

CPAR receives 76% of its $3.5 million budget from the Canadian International Development Agency, with the remainder coming from private donors, 40% of whom are doctors. Only 9% of funding is spent on administrative costs.

CPAR chairperson Dr. Diana Lacaille agrees their work is only the tip of the iceberg. “It doesn't matter,” she says. “We're changing lives one village at a time.” — *Ben Hadaway*, CMAJ