Swasthya Sanchar
Swasthya Sanchar was an Integrated Health Communication Initiative that was carried out for a period of one year, 2006-2007 in partnership with DFID (Department for International Development) and MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad).
Swasthya Sanchar “Communication for Health” was an HIV/AIDS awareness program that mainstreamed communication tools into SEWA’s health program.
The basic objective of the initiative was to raise awareness on prevention, care and support for HIV/AIDS, integrated with primary and reproductive health messages. It was used as an experiment to determine how HIV can be integrated into a holistic health program rather than in an isolated approach.
Tools developed and used:
- Posters
- Wall paintings
- Calendars
- Film video
- Community radio and radio replays
- Folk songs
- Adolescent booklets
- SEWA newsletter
- Street plays
- Mobile tentsHealth Education sessions
- Melas/ Sammelans
Impact of the programme:
- Informative and interactive tools like street plays, film, posters and wall paintings melt the ice between health workers and the community when raising personal issues or long– hidden problems.
- Community members have increasingly voiced the need for available HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services.