Communications
is one of the most integral components in any system. As systems are composed of various units, communicating among each unit allows for the system to achieve its function. If said medium is efficient, It allows for
equitable resource allocation while providing a medium by which data may be
collected and studied.
What is
Health Systems Research?
Why Talk
About Communications?
In my opinion,
communications is integral to the sustainable and fluid functioning of any
health system. Whether by reporting or effective social messaging, the need of
long term study can be demonstrated and thereby funding secured for continued study. For
health systems research, it allows for effective data retrieval and sensible
comprehension of the results. As a health system is accountable to the society it serves, it is necessary to adopt specific messaging vehicles that reach
the national audience and maximizes on exposure.
Understanding
the message itself is a whole different ball game; the comprehension of the message you
communicate varies based on culture and other socio-economic factors. You could positively
or negatively frame your health promotion and education messages with varying
behavioral change effects on message recipients. Listen to this short clip on “the
power of words” by the 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking. I believe he outlines
the power of messaging quite simply.
Communications
is necessary for health systems research because it involves people, institutions
and activities to function equitably and effectively. One must communicate well in order to achieve
efficient functioning of various component pieces or partners, prevent the unnecessary allocation
of resources and adhere to leading standards of practice. Above all, your message should answer the most important question...
Why should I care about your MESSAGE?
When receiving any health message, an organization or individual should obviously tailor communications to the audience and answer the aforementioned question well. Whether by the use of templates or creative messaging, vivid and clear communications are what will help you achieve your objective. I personally believe in the power of story telling. Stories are learnt but they can also be relayed to another very easily.
So why is communications necessary for health systems research?
Communications lead, inform, motivate and inspire the positive change we wish to see in the world. Isn't this why we go into research?
“If they
breed, you will bleed” is a message you would see on a billboard, warning of
the dangers posed by dengue in Sri Lanka. According to the WHO, two-fifths of
the world’s population; are at risk of dengue fever, with an estimated 50
million infections annually around the globe. As Sri Lanka and a few other
South Asian countries share the classification of “Category A country” by the
WHO; the vector borne disease remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization
and death among children. According to the Epidemiological Unit, Ministry of
Health, Sri Lanka; 25164 suspected dengue cases have been reported island wide
for the year 2013 (Reported Oct 14th 2013). Of which 48.11% of
patients were from the western province of the country, where the population
density is the highest on the island.
The prevention
campaign which aimed to curb the spread of this disease was initiated in early
2010. From the implementation of the
legal act (National Dengue Prevention Act), adjusting national management
guidelines and the vast research employed into finding a biological control for
the dengue mosquito; Sri Lanka has been rushing to purge the deadly virus off
its grounds. The recent advances in entomology research founded a new species
of mosquito in Sri Lanka, “Topomyia". It’s relevance to dengue is that in
its larval stage; the Topomyia larvae would feed on the larvae of the genus
Aedes. It is a hope that this discovery will help in the multi-pronged advance
against the dengue menace.
Vector
borne diseases have been plaguing the world since our inception on this planet.
Dengue, Malaria, Filariasis and Yellow Fever, are emerging mosquito borne
diseases. Their threat to human health remains detrimental in some parts of the
globe more than others. For example; In
Sri Lanka, Dengue prevention campaigns sprouted overnight creating awareness
and policies aimed at controlling the endemic. The National Dengue Prevention
Act in particular caught my attention. It has been constantly implemented and
the fact that fines and legal prosecution are now used as protocols for fending
off the hemorrhagic fever is nauseating.
Considering
that the vector mosquito breeds in pockets of clean stagnant water, the
breeding grounds are bound to be more numerous in the low socioeconomic areas
of the country. With terrible housing conditions, overcrowding and roofs that
are barely kept together; a perfect environment for water collection is
produced. Marginalizing individuals in this way is a mockery of any democratic governing
body. It would make more sense to provide incentives e.g.; tax deductions, if
the public health inspectors are satisfied.
I also
wanted to touch on the fact that a new mosquito species has been found. With
more research being funded into that topic; the intention I believe is to
incorporate this new species of mosquito in the hopes that the Aedes mosquito
will be kept at bay. My concern is that a new viral disease may emerge by
simply introducing large numbers of this new organism in to the environment. Tipping
the scales of a biological food chain is no simple safe task! Using Mother
Nature’s own, to alter our surroundings for our own gain may amplify other
dangers in the long run. Before such integration, thorough research must be
carried out because if they breed. You never know of the dangers do you...
Theresa Flores is a human trafficking
survivor.1 If you have
not watched her TED Talk2, I urge you to do so now.
As I listened to her heartbreaking story, I
was overcome by three terrifying realities: 1)at some point in my life, and without knowing it, it’s possible that I
lived next to, went to school with, or worked with someone who was being
trafficked. 2)many of us are clueless about domestic
trafficking within our own communities. 3)human trafficking does not just affect its victims. From a health
perspective, it has the potential to harm whole communities.
The International Labor Organization (ILO)
estimates that globally, about 21 million children, women, and men are victims
of human trafficking (2012).3
These ILO statistics show the most vulnerable populations, business sectors
where exploitation is most prevalent, and the illegal profits annually earned
by traffickers.4
The Institute for Trafficked, Exploited
& Missing Persons (ITEMP) states that 100,000
children in the U.S. are trafficked each year, and 1,000 between the ages
of 13 and 17 are trafficked internationally.5
Let’s look at trafficking from a health
perspective using a fictional victim named Anna. While being trafficked across
state lines to a brothel for sex work, Anna contracts TB disease that becomes
active, but goes undiagnosed and untreated.
She is in contact with other workers, 10-20
clients daily, and periodically frequents public venues, all the while talking,
coughing, and sneezing. She is also likely
having occasional unprotected sex.
Anna’s clients could be single, married,
with children, and have jobs. How many people will eventually be infected with,
and spread, TB disease and STDs? What happens when those with active TB disease
travel (via cars, trains, planes, buses) to other cities and states without a
proper diagnosis and treatment? How much would it cost each community to test
and treat patients, and trace the origin and spread of the disease?
Theresa’s story made me ask myself these
questions:
- Why are so many of us ill-informed about domestic human trafficking?
- Would I know where to find the resources to help them?
- Would I recognize the less obvious signs of a trafficking victim?
The Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force’s
June 27, 2012 report highlighted something crucial - domestic human trafficking has flown under the
radar for a long time, because much of the data (especially at the federal
level) has, for years, been more focused on international human trafficking.6 As such,
many of us may associate human trafficking with foreign nationals being shipped
against their will across borders and state lines, without considering the
possibility of our neighbors, family, and friends becoming victims of this
illegal trade. In addition, as seen in Theresa’s case, many believe that these
young women choose to become prostitutes, and as such, they cannot be trafficking
victims.
The Ohio Department of Health7
states that, “Ohio has ranked as high as fifth
among all states in total reported human trafficking cases with Toledo being
identified as the fourth highest ranking city in the nation for recruiting
victims into the illegal trade (2016).”Fortunately, Ohio now has
various organizations that: (i) research the prevalence of domestic trafficking,
(ii) provide resources to raise awareness, and (iii) provide services for
victims and survivors.
To name a few, organizations
like the Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition8 and the Ohio
National Human Trafficking Resource Center9 work with service
providers and other professionals, law enforcement, and volunteers, etc by offering
education, training, advocacy, and legal representation. Nonprofits like The
Daughter Project10 and Grace Haven11 offer rehabilitative
group homes for trafficking victims (girls). Others like Freedom A La Carte12
give survivors training and jobs, which is critical for their integration back
into society.
Local citizens can get
access to these resources at their local library, online, or from departments
that offer human services, and be a part of the process in raising awareness,
while providing support for victims and survivors.
There is one absolute
truth that we cannot ignore – anyone can be a victim of human trafficking. Anna
could be you or me. It just takes the wrong
person to see the right
circumstances and opportunity to
destroy your life.
Your
honor... Today this glass of orange juice or OJ you see before you is on trial
for causing several humans to become overweight. Take this boy, Tommy for
example. He’s 12 years old and doctors have prescribed more physical exertion
to bring his body weight to a healthier level. Tommy would consume about 2
glasses of orange juice every morning. Generally, juices are full of free sugar
(glucose, fructose, sucrose etc.) which are often added by the manufacturer to
enhance flavor. According to a Press Release dated 4th March 2015,
the World Health Organization outlined a guideline recommending adults and
children to reduce their daily intake of free sugar to less than 10% of their
total energy intake (1).
Consider
Tommy’s breakfast table...On one end is an orange and on the other is a glass
of orange juice.
Constituents
OJ/Orange Juice
(100ml)
The Orange
(Fruit diameter: 8
inches)
Calories
47
62
Sugar
8.81 grams
12.25 grams
Dietary Fibre
0.2 grams
3.1 grams
% of Recommended Daily Intake
4%
3%
The
Orange is roughly 8 inches in diameter, a proportionate fruit carrying 62
calories, 3.1g of fiber and 12.25g of sugar (2). The glass holds 100ml of Orange juice carrying 8.81g of sugar,
0.2g of dietary fiber and 47 calories (3).
Now the brand of the juice has a direct impact on the exact caloric
constituents. Given the above stated values, one could assume that after consuming
one orange you are more likely to feel fuller. On the other hand after one
100ml glass of orange juice, you are more likely to seek out the fridge for a
second serving.
So
it’s like that at breakfast Tommy could have just one orange which makes up for
3% of his Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) (2).
Or he could have about two 100ml glasses of orange juice which accumulates to
4% of his RDI (3). It is important
to note that we are still referring to his breakfast table and that additional
juice may be consumed at lunch and dinner. However the juice is more accessible
and easy to consume. The orange on the other hand requires peeling and
additional preparation.
The
director of the World Health Organization’s Department of Nutrition for Health
and Development had this to say about free sugars...
“We
have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10% of
total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay,” (4)
As
human beings we have a tendency to assume that “more” is always better. This is
not always the case. Too much of anything is not great for your body. In fact
your mantra should be “everything in moderation”. Take sugar for example, too
much of sugar in your diet can increase your risk of becoming overweight. This
in turn may result in chain reactions that could lead to Type II Diabetes,
Atherosclerotic heart disease or a predilection for cancerous outcomes. The
orange in its natural state harbors additional constituents such as fiber etc
that aid your digestive system’s motility while facilitating a gradual
absorption of sugar.
This
case is a bit murky, that I am aware of. The choice remains among individuals
like Tommy who may go for the healthier fruit option or go for the more
accessible glass of OJ. Statistics even show that with increasing age, the
consumption of sweetened drinks increases among children and young adults (4). Given this trend and all this
information, the question remains... Is there enough evidence to find this
glass of OJ guilty?
Let's talk about the “three coughs” or three major problems that threaten global health from the perspective of a U.S. Scientist.
He believes the first problem is the emergence of new diseases such as; Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (identified last year), H7N9 avian influenza flu and SARS (which swept the world in 2003). He goes on to express his appreciation of the efforts made by Chinese health authorities in relating all the information about the H7N9 strain and thereby allowing the disease to be considerably contained worldwide. These new infectious diseases pose 2 problems; Health care professionals have no knowledge about them when they develop and we don’t have any natural immunity against them. We can only assume their devastation...
The 2nd “cough” is the ever growing risk of multidrug resistant tuberculosis. And the 3rd global health issue he addressed was the threat of Bioterrorism in today’s world and the need for wide spread surveillance in order to prevent mass disasters. The growing dangers of measles and HIV infection was also cited in the article and ended on a happier note; how the efforts of PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) had saved millions of people from AIDS.
The scientist quoted throughout the article was the director for the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Thomas Frieden from a few years ago...
Infectious disease! Whether it was vector borne dengue or manmade biological weapons, microorganisms continue to rule our microscopic world. On reading the article, the 1st “cough” and the 3rd “cough” caught my attention. With our growing population and the effects of global warming, I would not be surprised if I hear about the emergence of a new avian flu in the months/years to come. It is critical that we pay more attention to the way we interact with our environment and there by aid in the emergence of deadly organisms. As a health care professional it would be ideal to create a upstream solution to this problem. With the current data at hand, one could assume 2 things; that, by invading the natural human free ecosystems, we expose ourselves to organisms that lay dormant and there by disturb the sleeping horrors that lay in the forests. The second possibility is that we create ideal environments in our communities for disease progression and evolution. Either way, it is time to create a vaccine for our arrogance.
If we didn’t have enough problems to start with, we now must protect us from ourselves. Bioterrorism has been the arena for much debate over the years. It started with the study of deadly organisms like Small pox and has now become the reason that nations go to war. As a public health professional, I would ponder on the relevance of bioterrorism to my field. I could argue that it is not my fight, that it is a fight at the macro level. But I believe it is also a major problem that public health would have to face in the future. The world just became more like a James Bond movie.
It is my honour to
introduce my friend Austin Otieno. He lives in Mtongwe Village, located in Mombasa, Kenya, and works as an administrator at New Mtongwe Medical Clinic. He is an ambitious young man who's full of dreams as seen during our work together in projects concerning hospital matters. I applaud his efforts in the community.
Austin Otieno can be found on LinkedIn and and his Twitter handle is AustinOtty.
Background
information
New Mtongwe Medical Clinic is a 24 hour private hospital
in Mtongwe village. It is built in a low income earning neighbourhood and provides services that include outpatient,
in-patient, maternity, family planning and antenatal. According to Austin, the common disease in the region is Malaria which impacts both children and adults, and Diarrhoea that affects children.
Maulid: What
is it that you do?
Austin: I facilitate the availability
of the right personnel, drugs, and a conducive treatment environment for patients.
Maulid: Let
us know about yourself?
Austin: I'm a 26 year old environmentalist. I graduated from Kenyatta University with a BSc Environmental Science, and I've worked as an administrator with the New Mtongwe Medical clinic for three years.
Maulid: What
are you passionate about?
Austin: I'm passionate about the environment, health, politics and football. I'm a super fan of Arsenal football club.
Maulid: What
makes what you do important?
Austin: As a youth, an environmentalist, and
now a hospital administrator, getting people and children to stand
on their feet; working, doing their duties and daily chores in building the
country is important to me.
Maulid: Tell
us about your profession?
Austin: To emphasize and educate the sustainable
use of available resources and environmental conservation including development
projects in the society.
Maulid: Tell
us about proper sanitation in the community?
Austin: I work in a low income earning
neighbourhood. In this area, Malaria and Diarrhoea are major concerns; simply, this means there is no proper sanitation in this neighbourhood and parents are
not concerned about it.
Maulid: What is the direct relation to an
inequity or inequality in the area of public health or global health that the
individuals are combating collaboratively? Austin: There is a lot of ignorance in the
society. That’s why the cases of Malaria and Diarrhoea are there. I did a collaborative project with parents to offer free
medicine to children. I thought I was helping, but no, in this area, treatment appears to be the second option. I did not empower them
on the issues of proper sanitation so after one to two months there was a long
queue at the hospital.
Maulid: Why
is proper sanitation in the community important?
Austin: Proper sanitation in the community is
very important because there will be no cases of health issues. We will avoid
Malaria and Diarrhoea cases. First we have to deal with proper sanitation for
health purposes and then treatment.
Maulid: If
you had a message to share with the world what would that be?
Austin: “let’s leave the world better than we
found it.”
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
I give thanks to the Almighty God for
giving me the opportunity to meet with Austin Otieno. Thank you Austin Otieno for inviting me to New Mtongwe Medical Clinic for a
productive interview. Your participation will make a great impact in the
society. You are a charismatic person and I like your ideas and efforts.
The nature of an opportunity is defined
individually as they are determined by every individual’s perspective on their
life and their careers. My passion for public health practice was founded on my
journey in clinical medicine. As my interests range from research appraisal,
knowledge mobilization and community outreach, I found that every opportunity
should be considered for its potential to showcase one’s professional skills. Recently
this year, I co-lead a professional development event titled the Personal and
Professional Pursuit of Excellence 2015 Symposium. At that point, a lot of
individuals asked me why I wavered from my path in public health. The truth was
that I never did.
In early January, I was actively seeking
employment in health promotion, protection and knowledge creation. When a
colleague suggested an opportunity to collaborate, I jumped on it. I was only
aware of one impact at the time. That impact was the enhancement of my
communications, leadership and stakeholder engagement skills. Reflecting on the
planning, implementation and evaluation of this event, I had effectively
developed my project management skills. Walking in to situations with a
scientist’s perspective, I began to refine the lens by which I looked at
community and stakeholder engagement. It had more to do with the appreciation
of patience and an awareness of clear concise objectives. We often outline the
scope of projects, but I began to outline what was no longer within the scope
of projects as well.
This symposium showcased over 13 collaborations
and our objective was to have the conversation about personal and professional
development. My objective to look at the social and economic factors surrounding
the professional’s health; this I observed in myself, our volunteers, our
collaborators and participants as well. The event was about providing a
platform for professionals in transition to engage with subject matter experts.
We wanted to give everyone an opportunity to collaborate and a chance to be
better informed. With 8 workshop facilitators and 3 event sponsors; the event was
an opportunity for all of us to come together and contribute to the discussion
about personal brands in the professional climate.
My application of these project
management competencies allows me to now effectively manage future projects,
especially the 2 global health ventures that I am now a part of.
My 3 lessons learned are as follows;
1) Training is required on all fronts
It doesn’t matter if you’re a
volunteer, a speaker or a sponsor, one requires a clear outline of what they
are expected to deliver on. These individuals will facilitate your event from
start to finish, so it is vital that you instruct them on the agenda and the
nature of the activities with precision detail. Moving forward with regard to
knowledge mobilization events, I produce detailed manuals and documents (such
as a memorandum of understanding) for all associated parties. Securing dates
for rehearsals and training in advance will essentially produce fluid events.
2) Emails are often lost in translation
Forget about emailing your project
stakeholders about every detail, the majority will not respond or respond
competently. Keep communications simple and few in numbers; you must also
remember that these are fellow professionals with work who may not have time to
read through your bulky emails. Also try to hammer out your communications plan
in advance and get to know your stakeholders; not everyone will prefer email.
3) Be Specific
Events require marketing plans and must
be promoted on multiple means. This means that you need all the information in
front of you. Plan out what you require from each involved party, this will
allow you to secure your data in advance. The more specific you are the better.
For example; don’t request a picture from a keynote speaker with a short bio,
request a high resolution picture in formal attire with a 75 to 100 worded bio.
The
moral of this blog post is that opportunities can further so many of your skill
sets without you even planning on it. This opportunity now allows me to cater
to highly effective productions of events. So when opportunities knock on your
imaginary door, consider the outcomes and impacts it can have on your career.
Don’t forget to let your imagination run wild, because I did. This blog was initially created to house a few thoughts by a few creative public health professionals. However, reviewing this year has taught me to dream BIG! So this blog will now house a number of global health professionals with diverse perspectives on health. This is an opportunity and it is most worthy of building anyone's application of global health knowledge and experience. I ask you to share your thoughts and perspectives in order to inform our approach in healthcare and health promotion activities.
