The 1HP Health Walk in Kano State Nigeria - 20th July 2024

The 1HP Project funded by Treatment Action Group seeks to build the community demand of short course preventive therapy among all eligible populations through leveraging on existing structures, stakeholders and healthcare services in Kano State of Nigeria by December 2024. The objectives are as follows:

• To assess the perceptions of all at risk-populations, household contacts and eligible population on the acceptability of 1HP by December 2024

• To strengthen the knowledge levels of communities and other TB champions on a community led approach of 1HP in high burden LGAs of Kano state.

• To create Community demand for 1HP among at risk-population and household contacts at the State level.

• To advocate for a scaled up and sustained 1HP through mobilization of stakeholders at the state level.

The objective of the health walk is to build community demand for TPT especially 1HP as well as strengthening the knowledge level of community members.

On the 20th of July 2024, Rahama Initiative in collaboration with Government agencies and partners conducted 1HP Health Walk short course Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy, 1HP across communities of intervention. The activity started with a welcome address by the Kano State Program Manager for TB & Leprosy which further encouraged active participation. The project team facilitated Door to Door campaign and Pamphlets distribution with key information on TB, TPT and 1HP. 

The team also utilized the available sound system and shared key information to the public which was accompanied by music through DJ and drums to draw people’s attention to listen. Significant number of community members accompanied the walk with a joyful engagement while listening to the music and such opportunities were used to educate community members on 1HP TPT. The team also had a stop at a strategic location within the market areas, tricycle parks and traditional medicine shops to engage the community members with an estimated reach of more than 20, 000 people. 

In addition, the strategic engagement of community and traditional leaders in the planning meetings of the health walk provided an opportunity for the groups to stop along the community leaders’ house for goodwill messages which further amplified the message of 1HP TPT, this is because they are well recognized and trusted within their communities. The community leaders informed people in their respective communities about the upcoming walk prior to the activity and helped in raising awareness through community dialogues, religious and social gatherings etc. as part of the action point during the meeting that was held on July 7, 2024. The Presence of community TBLS and the Kano State Program Manager for TB & Leprosy, who represented the Honorable commissioner of health has also made the message and gathering to gain acceptance. With his speeches at strategic locations, that ensured the community recognize their presence and accept the message.

Rahama Initiative engaged more than 200 volunteers to participate in the walk all in an effort to make sure each activity planned has been carried out successfully. The Nigeria Red cross was also engaged for medical intervention during the activity. The team alongside the security personnel and other stakeholders agreed to conduct the health walk at one of the busiest roads in the city on Saturday morning to ensure that the community members are at home.

Milestones

• Team Leads Formation and Briefing (8am-8:30am): All team leads were assembled and briefed.
• Material Distribution (8:30am - 9am): T-shirts and P-caps were distributed to the volunteers.
• Campaign Execution (9:00am - 12:30pm): All teams were deployed to designated teams.
• Public Engagement (9am - 1pm): Teams interacted with the public, distributing pamphlets
• and providing information.
• Support and Logistics: The welfare team ensured all volunteers were hydrated.
•  Debriefing (8pm - 9pm): Discussions on lessons, recommendations and challenges

The health walk reached an estimated 25,000 people during the activity through:

• 2, 000 Pamphlets were shared containing information on TB, TPT and 1HP.

• Door to door team mobilized almost 10,000 households 

• MC team were broadcasting the information and reached an estimated 10,250 people 

• The Banner team reached an estimated 5,000 people and were able to cover more than 7 kilometers cutting across 8 communities and 2 Local Government Areas. 

• The State Program Manager on TB & Leprosy represented the Honorable Commissioner of Health and addressed the gatherings at strategic locations.

• Community leaders were part of the walk and they addressed their community members which led to more acceptability.

Read more in the report here

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