9.3.3 Community mobilisation
Community mobilisation is a process of gaining the involvement of everyone in the community for an action towards a particular goal.
Can you remember some of the advantages of the community mobilisation process?
You may not have remembered all of the advantages, but your answer should have included some of the following.
Community mobilisation:
- helps motivate the people in the community through participation and involvement of everyone in a shared goal
- builds community capacity to identify and address community needs
- helps mobilise and release local resources
- promotes long-term commitment to sustained behaviour change and hence sustainability of health improvements
- motivates communities to campaign for policy changes to respond better to their health needs
- links members of the community to the available health services
- leads to a feeling of local ownership, which ultimately leads to a more sustainable immunization programme.
In the EPI, mobilising the community is likely to enhance the programme and hence make it much more effective. In order to mobilise the community you will need to interact with your target audience members in person. You should prepare your message in a clear and simple way. You can have the interaction in community meetings, in religious places, market places, etc. Loudspeaker messages for large community meetings may be appropriate.
You may need to use written materials — for example, you could put up posters and distribute leaflets. Drama shows and local community radio broadcasts may also help your communication messages to be heard and understood.
9.3.2 Advocacy