The Sudanese leads for the 5S project alongside local stakeholders (medical professionals, staff from El-Imam Elmahdi University, the Faculty of Geographical and Environmental Sciences and Iwiwa rural hospital, and staff from the state Ministry of Health) carried out community engagement activities in Dueim Locality, El Tdamun Unit, Um Jar and Iwiwa areas of the White Nile State, Sudan during the period 21/11/2023 to 24/11/2023.
The main objective of the campaign was to use the 5S project’s outcomes regarding mycetoma to raise the awareness of patients, people affected by the condition, and those around them such as family or close community, as well as healthcare providers, community leaders, and traditional healers. In total 714 people benefited from the campaign, which was followed by three days of medical clinics at Iwiwa rural hospital that benefited 650 people, including children and people with disabilities.
Mechanisms and methods to raise awareness.
Several mechanisms and methods were followed to achieve the objectives of the community awareness campaign and medication days successfully.
Public speaking
The 5S team in collaboration with the partners and stakeholders delivered a series of public speaking events on mycetoma to provide information and knowledge about the disease prevalence, causes, symptoms (early diagnosis), treatment and the role of the community in preventing the causes and spread of diseases.
The outcomes of the research provided by the 5S PhD Badraldeen Alnoor were also shared with the community. A better understanding of the disease will pave the way and increase the chances of combatting it.
Poster and brochure distribution
The 5S team distributed posters and brochures containing information about mycetoma prevalence, causes, symptoms (early diagnosis), treatment and the role of the community in preventing the causes and spread of diseases.
The team here considered the nature of the stigma among patients, thus photos of patients have been as presently missed. The team also focused on the role of children in community awareness as they can communicate the aforementioned messages to their peers at schools and public places.
Local community capacity building workshop
A one-day workshop to promote local Community Capacity Building (CCB) was held on 22/11/2023. The workshop was held at the school of Iwiwa. 45 people attended the workshop. The contributors were key persons in the area, Imams of the mosques, school teachers (males and females), Shikhs of the villages, administration leaders and officers.
The workshop focused on community capacity building at the local level, supporting existing skills and abilities to deal with the challenges that support the spread of mycetoma, including sociocultural and environmental factors, as well as the economic activities associated with the spread of mycetoma.
Environmental and Patients Society created at Iwiwa:
On the third day of the campaign, the 5S team discussed with the people of IWIWA the necessity of forming the Environmental Society to deal with the local environment and to get rid of the environmental factors that may create a favourable setting for mycetoma. The meeting was attended by 45 people, male and female. Afterwards and thorough discussion the meeting elected members to the executive board of the society.
On 23/11/2023 the 5S team held a meeting with 25 mycetoma patients. Subsequently, the meeting elected the executive committee of the society.
Medical consultancy and free medication services.
The awareness campaign was followed by three medication days in Iwiwa rural hospital where 650 people were seen by our medical team members.
The 5S team provided medication and treatment to people diagnosed with mycetoma, malaria, cough, and fever. Our staff also conducted 13 surgeries to remove foreign bodies that may create a favourable setting for mycetoma.
Below are some images shared by the 5S team, all taken with the appropriate consent from participants.
