Communication

Creativity at Fairs or melas attract large crowds and provide a unique opportunity to generate awareness in remote rural areas. They are also extremely popular for family outings and entertainment. If services can be provided at melas their acceptability automatically increases. SIFPSA organized chetna, a series of 120 health melas in Gonda and Shahjahanpur districts of UP during January-March, 2003. A three pronged approach was chosen :

This was a day-long activity in the village and ended with a film show in the evening. Advance publicity of the event was done on the preceding day in the event-village and two nearby villages by making announcements on loudspeakers and through banners at retail outlets and by distributing invitations and coupons for a lucky draw. Medical officers of the neighbouring PHC, ANMs and anganwadi workers participated in the inauguration of the mela which was usually done by the pradhan or a village influential.

The services provided in the mela included antenatal check-up of pregnant women, TT immunization and distribution of IFA tablets at the swasth nari camps. There was entertainment as well, which included attractions like lucky draw, wheel of fortune and quiz on public health issues. Often large crowds were present to avail services.

The men were not left out either. At the samajhdar purush camps a magician was used to speak about modern contraception. Games were also used to convey the fact that vasectomy did not affect masculinity. The teekakaran camp provided immunization services to children. The mela concluded with an exclusive lucky draw and a block buster film projected on a large screen. The film was interspersed with SIFPSA TV spots on spacing methods and raising age at marriage.

The wall paintings in the event village and the two satellite villages served as a reminder to the villagers of the 'chetna' or awakening that was brought on family planning issues by the event. A mobile van conducted a repeat visit to the event village after two months of the mela activity. The repeat visit served the purpose of distribution of contraceptives, follow up interaction with clients, ANMs and anganwadi workers to collect feedback.

Piloting this activity has resulted in some very useful lessons learned :