Education in Africa 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | The Role of 'Theatre for Development' in Mobilising Rural Communities for Primary Health Care: The Case of Liwonde PHC Unit in Southern Malawi |
| Authors: | Kalipeni, Ezekiel Kamlongera, Christopher |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Periodical: | Journal of Social Development in Africa (ISSN 1012-1080) |
| Volume: | 11 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Pages: | 53-78 |
| Language: | English |
| Notes: | biblio. refs., ills. |
| Geographic terms: | Malawi Central Africa |
| Subjects: | public health rural areas theatre Development and Technology Architecture and the Arts Health and Nutrition Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Women's Issues Law, Human Rights and Violence arts Health, Nutrition, and Medicine Cultural Roles Marital Relations and Nuptiality Law, Legal Issues, and Human Rights Medicine, Nutrition, Public Health Primary health care Social participation health education Malawi. Liwonde Primary Health Care Unit |
| Abstract: | This paper argues that the most important element in health care strategy is community participation. Using popular theatre - the Chancellor College Theatre for Development troupe - as a means of education and communication, the Liwonde Agricultural Development Division (ADD) Primary Health Care (PHC) Unit in the Southern Region of Malawi succeeded in motivating residents of two rural communities - Mbela and Mwima - to become actively involved in primary health care activities, such as the construction of pit latrines and improved water supplies. The impact on health has been remarkable. Data collected in the period 1985-1990 indicate that cases of death due to preventable diseases such as cholera and severe diarrhoea have fallen dramatically, especially in the under-five age group. By contrast the people of Chisi Island, who were also covered by the Liwonde ADD PHC Unit but who were not exposed to the 'theatre for development' approach, appeared uninterested in adopting a primary health care programme. Bibliogr., sum. |
