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Nigeria - Fistula Voices
Building on the success of PMC’s drama in Nigeria that dealt with the issue of obstetric fistula, PMC-Nigeria conducted a one-week training workshop called “Fistula Voices,” during the last week of October 2007. The goal of “Fistula Voices” is to use the power of the media and community mobilization to change attitudes and behaviors that lead to fistula.
Each of the workshop participants had experienced fistula at some point in her life and, as a result of this experience, was selected by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) to become team members for the “Fistula Voices” training and community mobilization project.
The participants were trained to be community mobilizers and educators. Outreach by women who have undergone fistula repair and returned to their communities can help to spread awareness about fistula treatment and prevention. These outreach workers can be role models, providing hope to other women who are suffering from fistula.
The training began with the theme of sharing stories. Each woman spoke about her own fistula experience. This was followed by a “community mapping” exercise that allowed trainees to draw their village (with crayons) from their perspective (location of mosques, hospital, and poor houses).
The PMC training team used the information that they gathered about the participants on the first day of the training to help shape the curriculum for the rest of the workshop. The remainder of the training consisted of a variety of different training exercises for the participants that would help them to become effective fistula spokespeople within their communities. Other elements of the training included: What is Fistula?; Community Mobilization to Prevent and Treat Fistula; Interpersonal Communication Skills; Behavior Change Communication and Mass Media; and Media Skills Workshop.
The training team included Dr. Ibrahima Sane and Mr. Daour Wade of Africa Consultants International (ACI), Dr. Scott Connolly of PMC Headquarters, and Dr. Anita Omubaya of PMC-Nigeria. The training was organized by PMC-Nigeria Country Representative Mr. Tony Asangaeneng and his staff in the Ibadan, Nigeria office. The “Fistula Voices” project is being carried out at the same time as PMC’s second radio serial drama, Ruwan Dare, which is serving four northern Nigeria states.
Funding for the workshop was provided by UNFPA-Nigeria.
