Communication for Change (C-Change)

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Date of Operation: 2008 – 2013Women demontrating proper bed net usage

Primary Implementing Partner: FHI 360

Other Implementing Partner(s): CARE

Regions of Operation: Oromia

Goal:

Lead to social behavior change that will increase access to, adherence to and use of malaria and HIV interventions.

Objectives:

  • Coordinate and lead national malaria stakeholders in developing key essential malaria actions, modify and develop social behavior change communication (SBCC) training materials for malaria and HIV/AIDS, and train zonal and district level health professionals in malaria and HIV/AIDS SBCC.
  • Improve community awareness on malaria prevention and control to maximize the understanding and utilization of key malaria interventions.
  • Promote positive behavior toward malaria control interventions and utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) through a range of SBCC approaches including community conversation and mass media.

Description:

C-Change assists the Federal Ministry of Health and the Oromia Regional Health Bureau (ORHB) to carry out social behavior change communication (SBCC) activities that lead to increased access to, adherence to and use of main malaria interventions. The program supports health workers to help families in villages and communities improve their knowledge about malaria and assist them to carry out specific actions (“essential malaria actions”) that will prevent and control malaria.

C-Change also carries out training of trainers for regional, zonal and woreda level health professionals on how to implement malaria prevention behavior as well as information on interpersonal communication. Using a cascading training approach, trained health professionals in turn are training the health extension workers (HEWs) and volunteer community health workers (vCHWs), as well as community-based and faith-based organization staff and local school personnel. This is complemented by broader, mass-media activities that again reinforce information included in essential malaria actions and integration into other health programs such as ANC and PMTCT.

These SBCC activities are currently being implemented through C-Change and other PMI/E implementing partners (e.g. Pathfinder Integrated Family Health Project, Fayaa Integrated Development Organization, Abt Associates, and AIRS) in more than 325 districts nationally.

Expected Results:

  • Developed a National Malaria Communication Implementation Guide to be used by health workers nationwide
  • Developed SBCC training materials for malaria and HIV/AIDS, and trained regional, zonal, district and community level health professionals in malaria and HIV/AIDS
  • Increased access to, adherence to, and use of malaria interventions.