TV Drama Reinforces Positive Malaria Care-Seeking Behaviors in Focused Community Dialogues

In Tungar Magaji (Koko LGA, Kebbi state), a family head said the Newman Street video made him uncomfortable because it revealed the dangers of his wife not attending antenatal care (ANC). Her pregnancy was long overdue for delivery but he had never allowed her go for ANC despite the fact that “she is constantly in pain.” After attending the community dialogue, he exclaimed, “I am no longer comfortable because she is long overdue and she is going through a lot.” After the dialogue, an HC3 community volunteer followed the man to his house and referred his wife to the primary health facility, where she later delivered a healthy baby boy. The husband’s profound appreciation was clear when he said, “I really want to thank this organization for coming to our aid, the video that was shown to us is really good, my wife is now ok and the baby; although she went through a lot but I thank Almighty Allah for everything.”

In Atim ( Mbaverakaa-Gboko LGA, Benue state), Mrs. Ngolumun Iorgema said she and her family members usually went to a herbalist or chemist when they thought they had malaria, but after the community dialogue and Newman Street clips, she learned valuable information about the dangers of not going to the hospital, especially since malaria can progress and become serious. In her words, she said “this movie ‘Tsaav story‘ has opened my eyes to where I should go to when I have malaria. I will now take myself and my family to the hospital when malaria symptoms arise.”

A village head in Sariki Walli, (Nasarawa State) said after a screening session that: “Our plan in this community is for everyone to start sleeping inside mosquito nets…the video did not say what killed Andy but one can understand that it is malaria…”