Strengthening community communication

A health communication project engages the knowledge of marginalised people in Kenya

A new project managed by AfriAfya and supported by Exchange is using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to communicate about health and development.

The project started in February 2005 and the first phase included intensive planning and training workshops. It builds on AfriAfya's experience of managing a central health communication "hub" in Nairobi and setting up regional field sites, which are based in locations ranging from primary schools to ministry of health offices.

Communication is the priority

Most of the field sites have a computer, printer and link to a satellite receiver but the main emphasis is on analysing what information can be exchanged to improve the communities' situations.

Knowledge within rural and marginalised communities in Kenya is not easily accessed by outsiders. And external information must be adapted if it is to have an impact and improve health.

The right tools for the job

Email and computers are important tools but they are not enough to engage communities. Face to face contact over time is needed in rural Africa with its traditionally oral culture of passing on knowledge and learning.

Video cameras have been requested by some field sites instead of computers as a more practical way to reach people in communities with low literacy levels.

Mobile phones have also been used to send snippets of health information from the team at the "hub" in Narobi in response to questions from volunteers at the field sites.

Getting information out

Thirteen new field sites have been established since February - a big achievement as the information needs of each community must be thoroughly assessed and volunteers at each site need to be trained. Most of them have never used a computer before.

The field sites draw on the "hub" to provide specially adapted information on a range of subjects. Until recently, most of the health information was about HIV and AIDS. But in the new project information on nutrition, child health, disability and domestic violence has been identified as relevant by the field sites.

One lesson from the project so far is the overwhelming interest in rural communities in information beyond health - agricultural practices, irrigation techniques, animal husbandry and micro-finance are all subjects in demand. This information is available from local research institutions, but the project provides a way to get it to the people who need it most.

Making a difference

AfriAfya has found that in those rural areas with few projects by development agencies, people have a more innovative approach to generating income.

This project takes a broad view of the role of ICTs in strengthening community communication and it is expected to generate learning that other ICT for development projects will be able to apply.

See www.afriafya.org for more information.