Community mobilization
visual communication, pneumonia, diarrhea, UC
PNEUMONIA
Currently, community mobilization efforts are variable across different villages in TMK, and in some villages are entirely nonexistent. The community identified an imminent need for improvement in health and hygiene behaviors and practices and believed mobilization programs can create awareness by educating local people. The most important issues in the community were identified to be the prevention and treatment of diarrhea and pneumonia, water and sanitation, improvement in breastfeeding practices and immunization. There was a unanimous opinion that forming community support groups would be the most efficient and socially acceptable way to convey messages to the greatest number of people.
Participants showed significant interest in developing community groups which can be used to promote healthy practices and solve communal problems. They suggested that these groups may be in the form of village health committees, unions, or local organizations (
The community of TMK eagerly suggested that mobilization and participatory learning is the way to change, and UC members should be involved in long term awareness programs. In many villages, communal gathering spaces are limited, and participants recognized the foremost need for community centers to facilitate group meetings. Children were identified as the ‘agent of change’ especially when it came to sanitation and hygiene. Innovative methods of message communication were suggested, especially visual communication including video and multimedia (brochures, pictorial messages, and flip charts). Participants recalled the success of pictorial charts for breast feeding practices which aided quick learning because women in the community found them interesting and relatable. These methods would be most effective, especially keeping in mind the low literacy rate and inability to read.