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| HLFPPT Kerala |
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HLFPPT had successfully completed two major interventions in the year 2007 viz. the Kerala Condom Promotion Project, supported by the Dept. for International Development (DfID) and the Project Support Unit of KSACS. Most of the interventions during the projects including the Marakkalle! Campaign had won appreciation from various corners including National level organizations. HLFPPT with a handful of experience in working with key population groups, NGOs, CBOs, merchants associations, service clubs and the health system in the State, has decided to continue the State operations by developing and implementing a set of projects that address the public health priorities of the State. The highlights of the activities are as follows :
Nodal Agency for Behaviour Change Communication:
State Disease Control and Monitoring Cell, NRHM Kerala
Chikungunya, Dengue fever and Leptospirosis are some of the diseases that have posed a serious threat to Kerala - to the people and the health care management system. The year 2008 started off with fresh cases of Chikungunya being reported mainly from the Northern districts of Kerala, necessitating focussed intervention in these parts of Kerala. Recent statistics also show an increasing trend of Leptospirosis. The ignorance and lack of awareness of transmission routes to the common mass increased the risk of transmission of the disease.
In this context, NRHM -Kerala (Arogyakeralam) established a State Disease Control and Monitoring Cell to coordinate the vector borne disease control programme. HLFPPT - Kerala had been chosen as the nodal agency by SDCMC in developing and coordinating Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) interventions addressing Leptospirosis, Chikungunya and other vector borne diseases.
The 1st phase of the BCC campaign focused on interventions addressing Chikungunya in Calicut, Kannur, Kasargode and Palakkad districts during March - May 2008. The 2nd phase of the campaign focuses on scaling up the interventions to the school setting in Kannur, Kasaragode, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, and design and implementation of a focused campaign addressing Leptospirosis in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
Highlights of activities undertaken by HLFPPT as BCC Nodal Agency
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Preparation of strategy document on behaviour change communication addressing vector borne diseases for the State, creative design for the entire campaign, supporting the District health department and the Mass media division in formulating plans, preparation of guideline and model action plan for Panchayats, orientation of the Health Staff towards campaign implementation, supporting development of volunteers at the grass-root level and linking health care institutions to the campaign. Handbooks, posters and brochures developed for the campaign have won appreciation from various corners including the Health Minister - Kerala.
- The BCC campaign on Leptospirosis strategically aimed at reducing the death rates by increasing people's participation in planning and implementing the programme, generating community dialogue, and synergising the intervention by bringing in the support of various stakeholders of the programme.
- The Aarogya Sandesa Yathra (Kala Jadha), a blend of street theatre and folk media, conceived and developed by HLFPPT has been instrumental in reactivating the grass root level health system towards implementation of local specific communication for both addressing Chikungunya and Leptospirosis. HLFPPT developed a six-member team in each district for performing street theatre at Corner meetings (of one hour duration) organized in all Revenue Blocks / Municipalities of the districts. The Arogya Sandesa Yathra comprised of a designed vehicle with a team of artists who performed skits, folk songs, participatory games and street theatre focusing on Chikungunya / Leptospirosis. The health workers in the respective areas gave a briefing on the undergoing prevention activities in the area.
'Eeduvinu Pattiya Amilli' (Eedu's goof up) - The School Campaign
The character of our story, 'Eedu' is a female mosquito. Her main hobby is to spread Chikungunya and other vector borne diseases. The story revolves around Mikku, a school student who has chikungunya being visited by his school mates. Seeing his plight, his friends decide to teach Eedu a lesson. They decide to meet Eedu and praise her on her beauty and cleverness. Eedu falls for the boasting and starts revealing the places where she lays eggs. The students act upon this, alerting other students; and begin intensive source reduction activities within the school setting. Eventually when Eedu comes to lay her eggs, she finds no place and realises her folly. The children had goofed her.
The story had been developed into a cartoon strip and ends with a series of questions related to the story. Students are invited to send in their answers; and also source reduction activities undertaken at their home or school. The best responses would be rewarded. The cartoon brochure has been conceived and developed by HLFPPT- Kerala as part of the school health programme, addressing Chikungunya and other vector borne diseases. The school health campaign was implemented on a pilot basis at Kannur, Kasaragode, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts with the support of the State disease control and monitoring cell of NRHM-Kerala. The response to the programme has been huge, with letters pouring in from school students.
Goofing up Eedu .. Feedback from Students ...
- ... Coconut shells and ice cream cups were the main sources of Eedu, I could locate in the premises of my home. With the support of Amma, Grandma and brothers, I could destroy them. (Alimath Burhana C.A., STD V, Periya PO)
- ..I am very keen to destroy mosquito breeding centres in and around my home now..I also got an opportunity to speak about "Eedu" in Kudumbasree (NHG) meeting in my locality. (Kiran M V, Pattott, Kasaragode district)
- I buried the plastic bags, egg shells, tins, coconut shells etc. in my vicinity for controlling Eedu ... I have decided to continue the same every week.. (Nandagopan, STD IV, Kasaragode)
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NACO - Condom Social Marketing Project
 The success of the Marakkalle! Theme has seen it being used for the undergoing NACO Condom Social Marketing Project in the State, functional since April 2008 in 5 districts of Kerala, namely, Ernakulam, Calicut (High Prevalent districts) and Kannur, Malappuram and Kasargode (High Fertility districts). The project focuses on increasing the reach and acceptance of condoms among the key population groups and their clients and the people who are in need of family planning intervention. Popular media like FM radio, Cinema Theatres, Local Cable Channels, window display drives, talking monkey shows, public interaction programmes on condoms etc. have been used to introduce and reinforce messages on condoms. A Street drama also had been conceived and developed, which was organized during the festive season of Onam. The project was instrumental in developing 7000 condom outlets in the project districts.
VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION
Voluntary blood donation in Kerala is estimated to be only 37% in 2008, despite the support of NGOs, service clubs, students' organizations and individuals. People are more familiar with replacement blood donation rather than VBD. There are 144 licensed blood banks in Kerala, of which 37 blood banks are functioning with aid from the Government / Kerala State AIDS Control Society. HLFPPT has been supporting outreach voluntary blood donation camps jointly done by the Government supported blood banks and the red ribbon clubs of NYK in different districts. A designed kiosk with messages on 'Rakta Daanam.Jeeva Daanam', brochures, and VCD on blood donation, helped in promoting blood donation during conduct of blood donation camps. Around 148 outreach camps have been conducted by the end of October 2008.
The immediate outcome of the programme was to get rid of fear of blood donation, by seeing and feeling the blood donation programme in an outreach setting. People became aware on the importance of Voluntary Blood Donation and got to know about the services rendered by KSACS. They also became more aware about blood and blood products, blood groups, universal donor and recipient, frequency of blood donation, quantity of blood drawn, etc. As part of streamlining the overall blood safety component in the State, KSACS has launched an intensive campaign for the promotion of voluntary blood donation in 2009. HLFPPT has been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the promotion of voluntary blood donation component for KSACS. The overall objective of the programme is to increase voluntary blood donation in Kerala from 37% to 60%.
'Talk To Us' - Campaign to promote ICTCs in Kerala
 Bringing in high-risk and bridge population to ICTCs has always posed a challenge, requiring novel strategies addressing stigmatization. To promote the ICTCs/VCTCs branded as Jyothis Centres in Kerala, HLFPPT had been entrusted by KSACS is implementing the 'Talk to Us' campaign. The campaign focused on increasing public awareness on voluntary testing for HIV. The theme of the campaign 'Talk to Us' is in line with the concept of promoting ICTCs as medical counseling centres as one to one interaction centres. The programme comprised of 80 exhibitions, conducted at select bus stands, railway stations and public places across Kerala. A branded information booth (Kiosk) designed for the promotion of VCTCs / ICTCs was put up at the exhibition venue along with audio-visuals. IEC materials on Jyothis centres with addresses of the nearby ICTCs were distributed. Interactive games and activities on self-risk assessment, risk reduction themes etc. and competitions were conducted for the general public.
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