Health Campaigns

The concept of ‘Health Campaign’ is a communication approach to provide dedicated health services to a target group.  Health Campaigns are also organized for creating special awareness on some issues which are important to retain through service delivery utilizing different methods and techniques like visual products, information and educational sessions by engaging both ends of provider and recipients. The aim is to bring change in behavioral practices and enhance understanding towards wellbeing of the targeted population. Health campaigns are conducted as special event on a special day or for a defined period  to focus on the importance of the ‘particular issue’ or it could be arranged periodically in a consistent manner to raise awareness as well as to provide required services to the population targeted for that.

Five principles are followed in relation to a campaign i.e. planning, developing, conducting a good campaigns  – that to be

• Creativewith selection of the right Chennel  (media selection – physical, online or offline), Community engagement, Language (appropriate to the audience or beneficiaries) ensuring

The Health Campaigns targeting the wellbeing of the garments workers’ usually held inside the respective premises of the factory in such a manner that brings together the workers and factory management  together  – in one goal towards health and wellness of the workers as a whole.  The venue gets  a festive look with banners and information messages, educational sessions – discussions –  booths are set ups – volunteers,  health workers, nurses and physicians are engaged to provide respective health services to the workers.  The campaign/s are arranged in addition to the regular health services provided to the workers community through the medical center of the  respective factory where the workers get usual everyday health support. Example of health campaign are arranged like ‘ Vaccination day’,  ‘Quit smoking’  , ‘Dengue Prevention’ or ‘Be safe from HIV’, CORONA etc. The main purpose of the Health Campaign is to educate & sensitize  the population with some medical interventions.

Garment factories are a busy hub – targeted to meeting the work orders with defined deadlines –  where every minute of  the workers visa vis all of the staff and management are synchronized in reaching the goal. Workers are the life line, so they need to be in good health and be productive. Therefore, required health services are extremely important. An example of health campaign conducted in several garment factories under BGMEA factories includes steps like :

• A health survey
• undertaken to learn the ‘knowledge, attitude and practice’ level of the workers community in general and based on that a campaign model is designed.
• Information and communication products with specific messages are developed and venue is decorated with those. Health interventions and supports ‘Booths’ are set up.
• A group of trained health volunteers, nurses and physicians and health educators are brought together.
• Workers are notified and encouraged to join and take the health services, and time of special health education sessions for the line supervisors are  also announced.
• Campaign orientation
• provided to volunteers , nurses and physicians on the whole of the campaign. Venue is decorated and organized with booths and campaign materials around the venue.
• The Campaign Schedule health education sessions, health check ups, consultations and referral services.