Nonprofit Leadership Podcast: Episode Summary Title: How Nonprofit Collaboration Increases Impact
Host: Rob Harter
Guest: Scott Marcelo, Leader of African Mission Healthcare Foundation
Release Date: December 23, 2024

1. Introduction and Guest Background

In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Dr. Rob Harder welcomes Scott Marcelo, the leader of the African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH). Scott shares his journey and the foundation’s mission to enhance healthcare access across Africa.

2. Origins of African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH)

Scott Marcelo delves into the inception of AMH, highlighting a pivotal mission trip focused on HIV care in Africa. During this trip, he met Dr. John Fielder, co-founder of AMH, which ignited his passion for addressing the continent's healthcare disparities.

Scott Marcelo [03:42]:
“What I learned there was not only how significant HIV was on the continent at that time, over 5% of the population of Kenya, as an example, had HIV...”

3. Impact and Scope of AMH's Work

AMH has made substantial strides since its formation in 2010. Scott outlines key metrics demonstrating the foundation’s impact:

• Healthcare Burden: Africa carries 24% of the world's disease burden but receives only 1% of global healthcare spending.
• Surgical Needs: Approximately 288 million people in Africa require surgery, equivalent to 80% of the U.S. population.

AMH focuses on building robust healthcare institutions, training over 20,000 health workers, and facilitating 1.2 million clinical visits.

Scott Marcelo [06:18]:
“AMH over time became committed to this notion that we could work in this sector of mission hospitals to really make a lasting difference on the continent.”

4. The Intersection of Faith and Humanitarianism

Scott emphasizes the unique collaboration between individuals of different faiths within AMH, fostering a unified mission grounded in humanitarian values.

Scott Marcelo [12:17]:
“This is an opportunity to really demonstrate a love and commitment for people that really desperately need help...”

The foundation’s founders, including Dr. John Fielder and Mark Gerson, merge Jewish and Christian traditions to strengthen their philanthropic efforts, underpinned by a shared commitment to care for the stranger.

5. Pressing Global Health Challenges in Africa

Scott identifies two primary challenges facing global health, particularly in Africa:

1. Healthcare Triangle: Balancing access, quality, and cost.

   • Access vs. Quality vs. Cost: Ensuring affordable, high-quality healthcare without compromising one aspect over the others.

   Scott Marcelo [15:13]:
   “How do you improve access at the same time, how do you continuously maintain and improve quality? And at the same time, how do you control cost?”

2. Shift from Treatment to Prevention:

   • Rheumatic Heart Disease: Caused by untreated strep throat, leading to severe heart complications.
   • HIV Transmission: Despite advancements, 130,000 children are born with HIV annually in Africa, necessitating extensive long-term care.

Scott Marcelo [20:20]:
“If we can solve for those causes, it'd be cheaper to help women get that neonatal care and really promote it, rather than treating HIV transmission after the fact.”

6. Importance of Collaboration and Community Engagement

Collaboration is pivotal to AMH’s success. Scott explains how AMH works closely with mission hospitals and other nonprofits to address specific needs without duplicating efforts.

Scott Marcelo [24:55]:
“We add tremendous value because we're active partners. We're really engaged with the hospitals we work with.”

AMH’s approach is characterized by:

• Active Listening: Understanding the community’s needs.
• Long-Term Commitment: Building sustainable relationships.
• Impact-Oriented Investments: Viewing donations as strategic investments rather than mere philanthropy.
• Training Emphasis: Expanding the pool of skilled health workers to ensure lasting impact.

7. Advice for Philanthropy in African Healthcare

Scott offers valuable advice for individuals and organizations aiming to engage in philanthropy focused on improving healthcare in Africa:

1. Proximity and Presence:

   • On-the-Ground Engagement: “You can't just mail it in over the fence and say, hey, money's the problem.”

2. Patience and Long-Term Commitment:

   • Sustainable Impact: Building institutions and systems takes time and persistent effort.

3. Building Relationships:

   • Trusted Partnerships: Developing candid and collaborative relationships with local partners is essential.

Scott Marcelo [29:24]:
“One of the things that we value the most... having the ability to be synergistic.”

He illustrates this with AMH’s integrated programs, such as combining surgical interventions with training programs and infrastructure development to amplify overall impact.

8. Connecting with African Mission Healthcare Foundation

For listeners interested in supporting or learning more about AMH, Scott provides multiple avenues for engagement:

• Website: www.africanmissionhealthcare.org
• Social Media: Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn
• Email: info@africanmissionhealthcare.org

Conclusion

This episode sheds light on the critical role of collaboration and strategic partnerships in amplifying the impact of nonprofit initiatives. Scott Marcelo’s insights into African Mission Healthcare Foundation’s operations highlight the importance of sustainable, community-driven approaches to addressing complex global health challenges.

Notable Quotes:

• Scott Marcelo [03:42]:
  “24% of the world's disease burden is in Africa. 1% of the spend on healthcare is in Africa. That's a huge disparity.”

• Scott Marcelo [12:17]:
  “Caring for the stranger is an incredibly important thing.”

• Scott Marcelo [15:13]:
  “How do you improve access at the same time, how do you continuously maintain and improve quality? And at the same time, how do you control cost?”

• Scott Marcelo [29:24]:
  “One of the things that we value the most... having the ability to be synergistic.”

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