Selina Maphorogo has been a community health worker in Northern South Africa for many years. She recently retired from the Elim Care Group Project where she worked with health professionals, volunteers, and community leaders to help eradicate the blinding eye disease trachoma.

Selina is recognized for her outstanding work. In 1996, she received the Community Builder of the Year award. In 1997, she was a finalist for the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights.

I first learned about Selina when reading the book, The Community Is My University: A Voice from the Grass Roots on Rural Health and Development. On a recent trip to South Africa, I had the privilege of speaking with her and recording this podcast.

In this podcast she talks with Helen Osborne about:

• What trachoma is and how it is passed from one person to another.
• Strategies to educate a community about disease prevention.
• Using song, dance, role-play and other ways to teach about health.

More Ways to Learn:

• Maphorogo S, Sutter E, Jenkins J (ed), 2003. The Community Is My University: A Voice from the Grass Roots on Rural Health and Development. Available from KIT Publishers at http://kit.nl/smartsite.shtml?ch=FAB&id=8332&ItemID=1034&RecordTitle=The%20community%20is%20my%20university
• Osborne H, On Call Magazine, 2007. “Perspective: Health Communication Half a World Away.” Available at http://www.healthliteracy.com/article.asp?PageID=6482

1 Comment »

1. 

   What a wonderful way to teach other health educators both about the disease and the work of community health outreach.

   What a wonderful learning tool!

   Comment by Norma Marti — August 31, 2009 @ 7:37 am

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