Promoting Community Health Over the Radio: Peace Corps and ADEMAS Start Healthy Listening Groups

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By Chris Uller
May 27, 2015
ADEMAS
Ahmadou Ba, field supervisor for ADEMAS, agrees on a point with a local facilitator regarding malaria prevention practices.

In pre-TV America, radio was the primary source of entertainment.  But today in Senegal, radio is becoming a tool to spread standardized community health messages that promote behavior change. The Agency for Development and Social Marketing (ADEMAS), and Peace Corps Volunteer Leader Chris have taken to the road to promote Healthy Listening Groups, which facilitate discussions of educational radio programs and foster collaboration between Peace Corps Volunteers, local radio stations, and community health workers.

The project aim is simple: to bring to light several health issues, including malaria and family planning, so that communities will have access to the newest and most coherent information.  At the same time, the Healthy Listening Groups, along with their local Peace Corps Volunteers, will help the community adopt the health behaviors discussed.

The recent tour spanned five days and five different communities, reaching 85 mothers and a handful of male health workers. Each broadcast featured a live discussion as well as additional recommendations from community health workers.

ADEMAS
Mothers and health hut workers come together to discuss family planning options.
ADEMAS
Health Volunteer Erica with her Healthy Listening Group in Coumbidia Socé.
ADEMAS
Health Volunteer Lindsay and Volunteer Leader Chris with the Sara Alhadji Healthy Listening Group after the ADEMAS discussion.
ADEMAS
A mother sharing her reasons for adopting family planning, during an ADEMAS radio emission.
ADEMAS
ADEMAS Field Supervisor Ahmadou Ba clarifies some important points about Malaria treatment with the Healthy Listening Group in Jahaba, Saraya.
ADEMAS
Health Volunteer Lindsay elaborates on the family planning options discussed on the ADEMAS radio program.
Category: Africa, Senegal, Health, From the Field, Press, Returned Volunteers, Prospective Volunteers, Family and Friends, Current Volunteers, Peace Corps Volunteer

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