Project title: Raising Health Awareness in Rural Communities of South Sudan
Project summary: This project aims to raise health awareness in the rural communities of South Sudan, by providing them with accurate and relevant information, education, and counseling on various health topics, such as COVID-19, malaria, nutrition, maternal and child health, and hygiene. The project uses a community-based approach, involving local health workers, volunteers, and leaders, to deliver health promotion and awareness activities to the target population. The project also collaborates with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and Amref Health Africa, who provide technical, financial, and logistical support. The project expects to reach 10,000 people in five counties in South Sudan, and to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding health issues.
Project background: South Sudan is one of the most fragile and underdeveloped countries in the world, with a high burden of preventable and treatable diseases. According to the World Health Organization, South Sudan has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world, and only 22% of the population has access to basic health services. The situation is worse in rural areas, where health facilities are scarce, understaffed, and poorly equipped, and where people lack awareness and knowledge about health issues. Decades of armed conflict have also affected the development and delivery of health services in the country. To address this problem, there is a need to raise health awareness in the rural communities of South Sudan, and to empower them to take charge of their own health and well-being.
Project methodology: The project uses a participatory and inclusive approach, engaging and empowering the local community in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the health promotion and awareness activities. The project follows these steps:
• Conduct a baseline survey to assess the health needs and gaps in the target areas, and to identify the key health topics and messages to be addressed.
• Design and implement a tailored health curriculum, covering various health topics and messages, using different methods and media, such as posters, flyers, radio broadcasts, mobile phones, and social media.
• Organize community dialogues, workshops, and trainings, to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the community members regarding health issues, and to foster their participation and ownership of the project.
• Train 25 local health workers, volunteers, and leaders, who will become the health ambassadors and agents of change in their communities, and who will supervise and monitor the health promotion and awareness activities.
• Conduct a post-intervention survey to measure the impact and outcomes of the project, and to collect feedback and suggestions from the beneficiaries and the community.
Project results: The project expects to achieve the following results and outcomes:
• Reach 10,000 people, including 5,000 women and 3,000 children, with the health promotion and awareness activities.
• Increase the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the beneficiaries and the community regarding health issues, such as COVID-19, malaria, nutrition, maternal and child health, and hygiene.
• Reduce the incidence and prevalence of preventable and treatable diseases, and improve the health status and well-being of the rural population.
• Strengthen the capacity and skills of the local health workers, volunteers, and leaders, and enhance their role and influence in the health sector and the community development.
• Establish and sustain a network and partnership among the local and international actors, and foster the coordination and collaboration in the health sector and the rural development in South Sudan.
Project resources: The project requires the following resources and partners:
• Human resources: The project team consists of a project coordinator, a health officer, a community mobilizer, and a monitoring and evaluation officer, who are responsible for the overall management and implementation of the project. The project also relies on the local health workers, volunteers, and leaders, who are the main actors and facilitators of the health promotion and awareness activities in the target areas.
• Material resources: The project needs various materials and equipment to carry out the health promotion and awareness activities, such as posters, flyers, radios, mobile phones, social media platforms, health kits, and transport vehicles.
• Financial resources: The project has a total budget of $100,000, which covers the costs of the staff salaries, the materials and equipment, the transport and logistics, the training and workshops, the monitoring and evaluation, and the administration and overheads.
• Partners: The project collaborates with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and Amref Health Africa, who provide technical, financial, and logistical support to the project. The project also coordinates with other stakeholders and organizations working in the health sector and the rural development in South Sudan, such as the local authorities, the community leaders, the media, and the civil society.