New Ebola animation for community health workers in Guinea

http://medicalaidfilms.org/ebola/

We are pleased to announce the release today of a new animated film about Ebola created especially for health worker use for community education on Ebola in Guinea.  Since the Ebola crisis began in December 2013, it has seen over 26,000 reported cases and 11,000 deaths in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, including more than 500 health workers*.  Although the peak of the outbreak has passed, new cases are still reported every week in Guinea and Sierra Leone, and there remains an urgent need for education to address stigma and rebuild trust in health workers and services.

Medical Aid Films has collaborated with the Earth Institute at Columbia University to create an animation for use by community workers, also known as “contact tracers”, to help educate communities about  ‘contact tracingâ’.  This vital work is done to find everyone who has come into direct contact with a sick Ebola patient to help stop further transmission of the disease.

Our animation follows the story of a contact tracer, Mariam, as she goes about her work ­ visiting those who have come into contact with a ssick Ebola patient, finding those who are showing symptoms, and arranging appropriate care for those who need it.  The film will be used by the Government of Guinea and UNFPA in Guinea; and it is freely available in English and French for anyone to download and use, in both standard and mobile formats.

Through this film, we aim to support health workers in their vital role as contact tracers by providing a tool to help disseminate valuable education about transmission of Ebola, combatting myths, and reducing stigmatisation of health workers to build the understanding and trust that is needed to halt the spread of Ebola.

To access the English version, please visit: https://vimeo.com/127482748

To access the French version, please visit: https://vimeo.com/127484181

* http://apps.who.int/ebola/en/current-situation/ebola-situation-report-6-may-2015

Notes:

Review team: Alhoussaine Bah (Earth Institute), Dr Natalie Greenwold (Medical Aid Films), Ali Herbert (Samaritan’s Purse), Dr Lilian Kiapi (International Rescue Committee), Anne Liu (Earth Institute), Dr Nathalie MacDermott (Samaritan’s Purse), Cindil Redick (Earth Institute), Dr Jilian Sacks (Earth Institute), Elizabeth Zehe (Earth Institute).

The Earth Institute brings together the people and tools needed to address some of the world’s most difficult problems, from climate change and environmental degradation, to poverty, disease and the sustainable use of resources.

Medical Aid Films aims to save the lives of vulnerable women and children in developing countries by providing innovative training and education through film. All content is free to view and download from our website. For further information please contact Josie@medicalaidfilms.org

HIFA profile: Josie Gallo is Content Co-ordinator for Medical Aid Films in the United Kingdom. Professional interests: Media for development.       josie AT medicalaidfilms.org

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