Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Media Action is using expertise and insight from our response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone to reduce malaria among women of child bearing age and their children.
The entire population of Sierra Leone is at risk from malaria. The disease accounts for 40% of deaths outside hospital across the country with pregnant women and children especially at risk.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Media Action is using expertise and insight from our response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone to reduce malaria among women of child bearing age and their children.
Our research tells us that demand for health information is high, with many women regularly consulting family members and friends for advice, but that there are many practical and social barriers to people seeking tests or treatment for malaria.
By regularly reaching women of child bearing age, their partners and other caregivers, such as grandmothers, with inspiring stories and opportunities for dialogue in their own language through a range of trusted channels we aim to help women overcome barriers and take action to access the healthcare they, and their children, need.
So we are producing a range of content across several media platforms to entertain and engage audiences, whilst also providing actionable and motivational information.
(Determined for Health) is a 30-minute Krio language radio show, broadcast weekly to a national audience since February 2018. It focuses on malaria and related illness, and featuring a range of voices – including parents, children, traditional leaders, health practitioners, and government decision makers.
We are using , the most popular and fastest growing in Sierra Leone, to enhance audience engagement with our radio programme through and requests for feedback and ideas.
We will also produce 12 radio and 12 TV spots, in Krio and three other local languages, to highlight emotional barriers and drivers that influence people’s behaviour around malaria treatment and prevention.
With our support 15 partner radio stations will produce local community discussions to build relationships between the public and malaria service providers.
Outreach tools, such as adaptations of our radio and TV spots and a discussion guide, will be shared with other organisations involved in community engagement activities encouraging malaria prevention and treatment.
Lastly, we will be conducting research throughout the project to get feedback from listeners and viewers of the radio show and radio / TV spots that will inform production, and allow us to assess the project's impact on malaria prevention and treatment.
Project information
| Project name | Communication for Healthy Behaviours, Achieving Reduced Malaria (CHARM) |
| Funder | Comic Relief and GSK Partnership |
| Dates | 2017-2020 |
| Themes | Health |
| Outputs | Tawa Fo Welbodi radio show, radio and TV spots, local community radio discussions, and outreach activities |
Our projects in Sierra Leone
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Empowering adolescent girls in Sierra Leone
There are 32,500 girls in Sierra Leone aged 13-17 who are not in school. Our project called Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient (EAGER) aims to aid in their transition to education, training or employment and inspire hope for their future. -
Protecting independent media for effective development
We are working with media support organisations and local partners to find out what works in supporting public interest media in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. -
Protecting pregnant women and children from malaria in Sierra Leone
Using insight from our response to the Ebola outbreak we're building awareness about malaria for those most at risk, using radio, TV, social media and community outreach. -
Using radio and television to inspire young people in Sierra Leone
Mi Stori (My Story) aims to inspire young people in Sierra Leone to be active, positive participants in their community through an interactive radio show and mini-documentaries championing positive role models.
