Educational videos program expands to 18 more health facilities in Province

Matola, , February 15, 2017—Around 60 health professionals from 18 high-volume health facilities in the districts of Manhiça, Magude, Matutuine, Moamba, Marracuene and , as well as from the Provincial Hospital of , have been recently trained by PATH and the Provincial Health Directorate in facilitating video sessions during morning talks at the health facilities.

The brief videos with engaging storylines in the local language address such topics as care during pregnancy, institutional birth, newborn care, infant feeding, and early stimulation. The videos have been developed based on analysis of common barriers to desired practices, in line with the national social and behavioral change communication strategy. They have been produced by the community organizations and piloted at the health facilties in Boane District in 2016.

Olivia Chissaque, chief medical doctor in Boane District, encouraged the participants to invest in the video sessions based on the results achieved in her district: “The videos have been helpful in promoting behavior change in our clients. They help caregivers learn to stimulate their children. Our institutional births have increased thanks to the video on births in the health facility. I hope that you will show the videos as scheduled, have conversations with the community, and take good care of the equipment.”

The trainees felt that the training has prepared them to take on this new health promotion activity. “The training has exceeded our expectations. We are now able to project videos and to lead discussions on video topics,” said Yolanda Tembe, maternal and child health nurse at the Namaacha Health Center.

The first video sessions at the health facilities are planned for February 2017, after all the health facilities have received their video projecting kits and integrated video sessions into their monthly health education plans.

Simulating a video session during the training. Participants practicing to set up the video projecting equipment.

Photos: PATH/Svetlana Drivdale To learn more about PATH’s integrated ECD work, please email us at: [email protected]

PATH’s integrated Early Child Development program in is jointly funded by PEPFAR through the US Agency for International Development, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and is implemented in partnership with district and provincial health and social action services.

This Newsflash, published by PATH, was made possible with the support of the PEPFAR through the US Agency for International Development. This is not an official USAID or U.S. Government publication. The contents of this e-newsletter are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. Government.