Dr Lawrence Rugema shares this report of activities from the University of Rwanda GHRU team. Before starting podoconiosis research in Musanze district, they have been working with communities and stakeholders involved in the research to better understand their priorities and also explain the aims of the research programme.
Rapid ethical appraisal
The Month of July 2023 was dedicated to the implementation of Rapid ethic appraisal (REA) (see this prior article for reference on REA) activities in Musanze district.
REA was intended to gather stakeholders’ perspectives, inform and better prepare for the prospective data collection ahead and adjust data collection procedures where necessary.
A meeting with the responsible staff of the Ruhengeri Hospital and the local organizing team working at the hospital took place to share with them the aims of REA, Theory of Change and community engagement and discuss their roles in the exercise as key actors in the study.
The office of Director General Ruhengeri Hospital helped to invite local members such as opinion leaders at the village level, sector and district level to come for REA and ToC.
This was organized in collaboration with the Community Engagement officer which enabled podoconiosis patients, community members living alongside podo patients, Community health workers and staff from the hospital that deal with podoconiosis to participate in both exercises.
Researchers did a field visit to Saint Vincent Clinic in Musanze District, where a group of 20 podoconiosis patients met with researchers, at Gataraga Health Centre where researchers also met care providers.
Theory of Change workshop
A workshop took place with the same participants to get their views on the Theory of Change (TOC) for the programme.
Stakeholders’ expectations were gathered through their participation in the TOC exercises Participants contributed their ideas to the project activities and indicators, short and long-term outcomes which will now be incorporated into the TOC for the project, monitored and evaluated.
