A Brief Introduction to Community Engagement |
A Brief Introduction to Malaria Diagnostics |
The NeedTanzania has been tackling the threat of well-known communicable diseases, such as malaria, for a long time now. However this has left non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, relatively neglected as a public health issue. Non-communicable, chronic diseases have quietly but rapidly ascended the morbidity and mortality ladders, especially high blood pressure.
This can be seen when comparing the leading causes of death in Tanzania between 2005-2016. Communicable diseases are slowly declining, with the most significant drops in HIV/AIDS and Malaria. However, ischemic heart disease has risen 46.9% and is the 4th highest cause of death in 2016 (5th in 2005), and cerebrovascular disease has risen 29.5% and is the 7th highest cause of death (9th in 2005). Both of these diseases can be caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, which are to a large extent lifestyle related diseases. Health education is one way in which we can respond to lifestyle related diseases, since individuals need to be aware of the risks of developing diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and also aware of the ways they can change their lifestyles in order to improve their general health Our WorkNon-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) (pilot 2018-)
The Voices of Dar Es Salaam – Mass Media Campaign In 2018, the CDI health team put into production the pilot of a mass media health education campaign. This campaign involved the production of both TV and radio content in order to provide health education on various non-communicable diseases. By the end of the summer, we had produced of 6 x 15 minute TV episodes, which were aired nationally on two TV channels (Sibuka TV and Tabibu TV), and 8 x 1 minute radio spots, which were aired nationally on Sibuka FM a total of 1080 times between September and December 2018. Mass media has been used as an effective tool in the past to provide lifesaving health education to great effect. Our mass media campaign aims to be effective by reaching a large audience with content that will promote individuals to change their lifestyles for the better and, in turn, reduce their lifestyle risk factors for developing non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. The content for the TV programme and radio spots emphasised community involvement. All episodes and spots dedicated time listening to people from various socioeconomic backgrounds in Dar Es Salaam, listening to their insights and stories about Non-Communicable Diseases. NCDs Workshops In addition to the mass media campaign, we recognised that media channels are not always available, such as radios and especially TVs. In turn, we piloted an NCDs workshop that could be presented to more rural communities. The workshop content took large inspiration from the Dementia Friends campaign, where laymen are trained to give information sessions about dementia. In a similar fashion, we hope our workshop content can be used to train community leaders to present the content to their communities. Our pilot workshops in the Vingunguti ward of Dar Es Salaam had 150 attendees. Our survey results showed that attendees did indeed have improved knowledge of NCDs at the end of the workshop. |
|
Our Vision
For the 2018-2019 CDI Health project, there is a lot of work to be done and opportunities to pursue, expanding on the existing work done in the 2017-2018 project.
Mass Media campaign
Firstly, monitoring and evaluation of the mass media content (a notoriously difficult task) needs to be conducted through viewership figures and controlled testing on the content.
The mass media content produced thus far should be amalgamated into a cohesive mass media campaign. This should include a dedicated website and social media accounts.
Finally, future teams can decide how they would like to distribute their resources – either into producing new content based on new research, or distributing existing content on more channels (or both).
NCD Workshops
Now that the NCD workshops have been piloted, increasing the attendance of workshops is the next step. One proposed mechanism for this would be to follow the Dementia Friends model, where community leaders are trained to provide information sessions to their local communities. The future health teams could work on piloting such training sessions, and test the effectiveness of the resulting workshops run by community leaders.
Overall Vision
CDI gained many contacts and working relationships with those in media and government last summer. The future health project will have to make a more formal relationship with the Ministry of Health before it can expand its scope. It will aslo have to maintain existing connections with health professionals from TANCDA (Tanzanian Non-Communicable Disease Alliance), and maintain and establish relationships with media production and broadcasting companies.
Mass Media campaign
Firstly, monitoring and evaluation of the mass media content (a notoriously difficult task) needs to be conducted through viewership figures and controlled testing on the content.
The mass media content produced thus far should be amalgamated into a cohesive mass media campaign. This should include a dedicated website and social media accounts.
Finally, future teams can decide how they would like to distribute their resources – either into producing new content based on new research, or distributing existing content on more channels (or both).
NCD Workshops
Now that the NCD workshops have been piloted, increasing the attendance of workshops is the next step. One proposed mechanism for this would be to follow the Dementia Friends model, where community leaders are trained to provide information sessions to their local communities. The future health teams could work on piloting such training sessions, and test the effectiveness of the resulting workshops run by community leaders.
Overall Vision
CDI gained many contacts and working relationships with those in media and government last summer. The future health project will have to make a more formal relationship with the Ministry of Health before it can expand its scope. It will aslo have to maintain existing connections with health professionals from TANCDA (Tanzanian Non-Communicable Disease Alliance), and maintain and establish relationships with media production and broadcasting companies.
Our Impact
For the full version of the Health Project's Impact Report, please see our Publications Page.