In-country activities
HAP pilots a Health Promotion Campaign on NCDs prevention targeting communities of rural and semi-urban areas in South Albania
Besim Nuri
NCDs in Albania are the main causes of premature death, disability and chronic ill-health. Of particular concern are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers. The Health for All Project (HAP) funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implemented in June 2018 the pre-testing phase of a mobile outreach community health promotion campaign, named "PërSHËNDETje". The campaign aims to raise community awareness about NCDs and their prevention.
HAP piloted this innovative, two-pronged approach with the purpose of: 1) Strengthening the health literacy of the community members regarding NCDs, empowering them to prevent them by reducing risk factors, changing behaviors, and increasing demand for screening and treatment at the Primary Health Centers; (2) Engaging and strengthening health professionals in particular the nurses at local Health Centres (HCs) to lead and support communities in reducing their NCD-related risks.
The activities targeted the whole communities and families and reached the primary target population of teenagers, young people and parents. 850 people have been reached in selected rural and semi-urban areas of Mallakaster and Fier Municipalities, through implementation of 8 rounds of the campaign. People circulated in five thematic stations such as NCDs risk factors and the purpose of the Campaign, the risk of tobacco smoke exposure, dietary risks and prevention, alcohol consumption and adequate physical activity. In addition, participants paid a visit at a station run by the local health personnel, where their health questions could be answered, assessments of their individual risk were made and family doctor appointments were set up.
In every station, two thematic facilitators, one male and one female, followed a script and used tools, specifically developed by HAP and endorsed by the Institute of Public Health of Tirana, to work interactively with waves of 10+/- people for about 15 minutes.
An exit questionnaire was applied to measure the effectiveness of the campaign and satisfaction of the participants. 98% of the interviewed people said that they did like the activity very much, and 88.5% of them declared that they did learn at least one new message related to NCDs risks reduction: 34% mentioned messages on healthy eating, 29% on smoking and especially on passive smoke, 17% on alcohol use and only 4.5% on physical activity[1]). 81% declared that they will make changes in their own and of their children lifestyle.
The pre-testing sessions were implemented by a consortium of Albanian NGOs (Action Plus and the Centre "Epoka e Re") under HAP supportive monitoring and supervision. The recommendations elaborated during this pre-testing phase will serve for a better planning and logistic preparation before fully escalating the Campaign in the two regions of the project.
[1] As the campaign was applied in rural areas, people don't see perhaps the need for very structured physical activities, as they walk long distances and work in the field.
Contact person:
Besim Nuri | besim.nuri2018@gmail.com
