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Before & After
Clinic Rehab Strengthens Cooperation
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Photo: USAID/Bujar Topçiu
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BEFORE - The people of the disadvantaged Asim Zenale quarter
in the central Albanian city of Krujë went to this dilapidated,
unsanitary clinic for basic healthcare needs.
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Photo: USAID
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AFTER - The clinic was refurbished, and its improved services will
benefit 6,000 patients. Mr. Topçiu, a member of Krujë’s Muslim
community, said of his neighbors, “Now, for the first time, they
have the possibility to receive all necessary primary health services
all day long.” Working together toward a common goal also
strengthened friendship and understanding among members of the
Sunni and Bektashi communities.
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Religious communities
unite to improve health
services
Albania enjoys a high degree of tolerance among its four main religious communities — Sunni Muslim, Bektashi Muslim, Catholic
and Orthodox Christian. Yet strengthening their ability to work together even further can go a long
way toward maximizing community development efforts. USAID helped
religious leaders learn to identify
and implement small local projects
that would benefit the entire
community. Using their new
participatory approach, Sunni and
Bektashi communities identified the
rehabilitation of a run-down health
clinic in Krujë as a project that
would cost relatively little but would
significantly improve the lives of
people in this disadvantaged
neighborhood.
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