2024 IMdev Partners with Health Education Program and Others to Boost Bed Net Distribution Awareness in Sierra Leone
In a concerted effort to combat malaria and promote public health, IMdev has collaborated with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health and Sanitation, bolstered by funding from UNICEF, to spearhead a dynamic Health Education program. With a primary focus on raising awareness about bed net distribution, IMdev has employed a multifaceted media approach, leveraging jingles, short videos, radio and TV appearances, and social media platforms to amplify outreach and engagement. Through these concerted efforts, IMdev aims to empower communities with crucial knowledge about malaria prevention, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes across Sierra Leone.
IMdev Partners with IPDC UNESCO to Launch 'Increased Media Capacity to Report on the Right to Access to Information Law and the Sustainable Development Goals' Project in Sierra Leone
IMdev is proud to announce the launch of the 'Increased Media Capacity to report on the Right to Access to Information Law and the Sustainable Development Goals' project in Sierra Leone, made possible through the generous support of IPDC UNESCO. This initiative aims to bolster media capabilities in the country, specifically focusing on monitoring and reporting on the implementation of Sierra Leone's Right to Access Information Law. By equipping journalists and media professionals with the necessary tools and resources, IMdev and IPDC UNESCO strive to promote transparency, accountability, and freedom of information, thereby strengthening democratic principles and fostering an informed citizenry.
Sierra Leone's 2023-2024 ITN Campaign: Media Engagement Drives Malaria Prevention Efforts
Malaria remains a critical public health issue in Sierra Leone, significantly affecting children under five and pregnant women. To combat this, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners and funded by UNICEF Sierra Leone, launched the 2023-2024 Nationwide Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) Campaign, distributing over 5.4 million ITNs to households nationwide. Central to this campaign was a comprehensive media engagement strategy to ensure community participation and behavior change. The Initiatives for Media Development was tasked with leading the media campaign.
Campaign Overview
The primary goal of the ITN campaign is to reduce malaria transmission and mortality by promoting the widespread use of ITNs. The Health Education Program and the Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev) led the social behavior change communication (SBCC) efforts.
Media Engagement Strategies
- Jingles in Krio and Local Languages: Four jingles were produced in Krio, covering different campaign stages—registration, distribution, and post-distribution. To ensure accessibility, these jingles were translated into multiple local languages and refined through pre-testing across all districts.
- TV Discussion Programs: Television programs on AYV TV and SLBC TV provided detailed discussions about the ITN distribution process, reaching a broad audience.
- Broadcast of Video Skits: Two short videos were aired extensively on AYV TV and SLBC TV from January 29 to February 14, 2024, maximizing outreach with twice-daily broadcasts.
- Malaria Theme Song: A theme song promoting ITN usage, produced with the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Band, was disseminated through various channels.
- Radio Discussion Programs: Radio programs targeted diverse audiences on stations like Voice of Islam, Tumac Radio, Citizen Radio, SLBC, and SKYY Radio. These programs were tailored to specific demographic groups and included community insights to address local concerns.
Conclusion
Strategic media engagement significantly enhanced the 2023-2024 ITN campaign's success in Sierra Leone. By utilizing diverse media channels and ensuring cultural and linguistic inclusivity, the campaign effectively communicated essential messages to a broad audience, contributing to the goal of reducing malaria transmission and improving public health outcomes.
For more information on the campaign’s media engagement efforts, please visit the following links: