Introduction
The Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development (TICH) in Africa is a voluntary agency registered in the Republic of Kenya as an International Community Based Health, Development, Research and Training Institution. The genesis of the Institute can be traced back to the Saradidi Rural health Program, in Siaya District, Kenya founded in 1979 in partnership with University of Nairobi, School of Medicine), the Anglican Church of Kenya, Diocese of Maseno South, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). The project was transformed in196 into a Networking International Co-operation agency, the Community Initiatives Support Services (CISS).
At the end of the Nineties various stakeholders expressed the need for formal courses leading to recognized academic qualifications in Community Based Health Care. TICH emerged in response to that need and to contribute towards the achievement of health for all and sustainable development through the development of concerned, effective leadership and management at all levels of the Health and Development systems. In all this, there was a bias towards strengthening Civil Society Actions in response to the gaps created by the state, going through various reforms dictated by international agencies with mandates to protect the interests of the rich countries, companies and individuals. Therefore, the primary constituency of TICH had been the Civil Society, yet the recent devolution of governance and service delivery to counties, in Kenya, has expanded the opportunity for TICH to serve counties, constituencies and wards.
To become a training institute TICH sought affiliation with various academic institutions for the purposes of accreditation. The University of the Great Lakes in Goma, DRC, Universite’ Libre des Pays Grands Lacs (ULPGL), welcomed TICH and guided the its development towards the launch of its academic programme in April 1998 at the Tom Mboya Labour College, Kisumu, Kenya. In view of the urgent academic leadership needed for the Institute, the then General Director of CISS was asked to step in as the Director of TICH.
The Institute brings together academicians, professionals and practitioners in Community Health and Development of diverse backgrounds to pool their skills, expertise and experience in developing concerned leaders, managers and professionals in Community Health; provide sound research evidence base for policy development as well as decision making in the management of Community Health and Development programs; provide technical services to interested partners in the areas of health system strengthening, evaluation and implementation research as well as sustainable Community Based Partnership Programs.
TICH existed as an institute living its mandate of transformational participatory training linked to evidence generation to inform continuous community and institutional improvement. In this way TICH courses got the clamour of many people and the nation. In 2006 the institute, in partnership with the ministry of health (MOH) the Community Health strategy to reverse the negative trends in national health indicators of the 1990s. In the same year TICH created the Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK). From the 2006 to 2018 TICH was swallowed in GLUK and became a faculty, as the director became the first Vice Chancellor of the University, though her vision did not die nor the vision holder. This was the sad epoch in the history of TICH since it lost its visibility and space to continue growing its initiatives.
From 2018 TICH has struggled to regain her independence to follow her vision mission and execute her mandate. In 2019, there was a paradigm shift from the traditional community health and development courses that TICH was known for, adding on Technical Education Training (TVET) courses and in 2021 National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) courses. In July 2021 there was a fundamental change in the governance of TICH that delineated the Institute from the Trust following a Special General Assembly Meeting on 20th July 2021. Thus, TICH Trust become the apex organization responsible for all her constituents of which TICH institute is one. This change has proved to be a dynamic continuous process.
The institute focuses on professional training offering NITA, TVET, Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC), Medical Courses and Teacher Education courses at Diploma levels; and her domain for the last 25 years, Community Health and Development both at Certificate and Diploma levels with enhanced skills development dimensions. Currently, the institute has an administrative office and training activities at the Lutheran Technical Training Institute(LTTI) compound in Mamboleo, just after the Mamboleo slaughterhouse main gate and facilities shared with GLUK in Milimani, Kisumu.
This strategic plan, the first in the new dispensation, commits TICH on the pathway to work selflessly to achieve its vision by extending this commitment to all people and organizations of good will to join hands in the struggle of poverty reduction through skills development and community service. TICH is committed to remain relevant to national regional and global changes, aligning her 2022-2027 SP to the Kenyan Ministry of education plans and policies anchored in the technical vocational education and training act 2013. The students in TICH go through a process of skills development and attitude change by being engaged as workers in real life situations managing programs in health, social, technical and enterprise development.
The programs facilitated and managed by the students act as models of excellence, and examples of best practice. Essential to these activities is the documentation of processes and outcomes to enable wider dissemination of the valuable experiences and results realized. This makes this Strategic Plan an instrument to promote strategic, collaborative action on the national, regional and international problems of poverty, inclusive education, unemployment, ill health, social exclusion and bad governance. TICH sees itself with the daunting responsibility of being at the forefront of county, national, regional and international action arena on community health and development though training.
Vision
A healthy, just, prosperous and sustainable society in which individuals, families and communities are enabled, empowered and equipped with the necessary practical capacities to enjoy essential elements of dignified livelihoods and experience life in its fullness, while being prepared to respond to crises that occur from time to time in life.
Mission
Building on and strengthening the potentials, actions, strengths and capacities of individuals, families, communities and institutions in order to develop concerned and effective leadership and programs in community health and skills development through academic and professional training, research and partnership at all levels, Building a bridge into a sustainable and secure future beyond the 21st century.
Institutional Goal
To develop and sustain TICH as a tertiary center of academic, professional and technical excellence providing support and facilitation in community health, medical, education, and vocational science and technologies skills development.
Core philosophy, principles and values
TICH believes that all people and communities have inherent capacities to undertake sustainable, collective and collaborative actions to solve their own problems. In this regard, the principle of partnership lies at the core of TICH academic, professional and practical institutional value system. TICH thus recognizes, affirms and builds on the strengths of every stakeholder and partner engaged in health and development. This forms the basis for combating both ill-health and poverty in our society. In this way TICH is committed to: Promoting multiple accountability.