Community engagement in Mongolia

The Mongolian Screening of Disadvantaged Children Project aimed to provide comprehensive medical screenings for children living in the ‘coal settlement’ and along the coal road near Tsogttsetsii soum. The screening included children with disabilities, orphans, children from low-income households, and children with restricted or no access to basic health services.

The project, a collaboration with a local non-government organisation (NGO) and Soum Intermed Hospital, ran for six months, delivering screenings to a total of 46 children. We invested $10,577 and collaborated with the local NGO to engage the community, raising awareness and encouraging participation in the project. The hospital provided a 25% discount on the screening package for the children involved in the project.

This collaborative approach aimed to ensure that healthcare services were accessible and affordable for disadvantaged children, demonstrating our strong commitment to improving
health outcomes in the communities in which we operate. Brett Harris, Executive Director of Thiess’ Mongolian operations said, “This initiative not only addresses immediate
health needs but also fosters long-term community health resilience”.

The project's success is attributed to the cooperation of a diverse group of stakeholders, including local authorities and the client. This partnership model underscores the significance of multi-stakeholder engagement in promoting health improvements and delivering broader community benefits.