LSSBCC’s TWG, TCI continues information on health matters in Lagos…As Badejo speaks on role of SBCC
The Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Lagos State Social and Behavioural Change Committee (SBCC) and The Challenge Initiative (TCI) known for her global urban reproductive health initiative have continued to search for better ways of information dissemination on health matters in the Lagos state.
At the committee’s Technical Working Group meeting which took place at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, on 30th July, 2024, the Lagos State Health Educator and Coordinator of the Committee, Badejo Olusegun Isaiah, while appreciating TCI for providing funding and technical support for the activities of the SBCC, said that the objective of the SBCC is to empower individuals and communities and also to lower structural barriers that hinder people from adopting positive practices and promoting demand generation for uptake of heath programmes/services, adding that it also provides strategic direction to SBCC activities in the state towards improving health outcomes.
He further added that the objectives of SBCC include coordination of the dissemination of accurate, unbiased information on prevention, containing of diseases and minimizing complications through the use of appropriate approach and technology to enable individuals or targeted group to make an informed choice which will protect the health of Lagos State citizenry as a whole.
The Lagos State Social and Behavioural Change Committee (SBCC) was created to provide a strategic direction through appropriate channels that will address every aspect of how to take family planning methods, food safety and food processing aspect of Nutrition, child nutrition, adult nutrition, the care of the elderly, among others. The committee cut across all areas of health.
Mr Badejo spoke on the Terms of Reference of the SBCC which include defining strategic direction for demand generation in the State; harmonize and standardize demand generation messaging in the State for uniformity, clarity and conformity to State standards; mobilize resources from multiple sources (State, Local Government, partners, community and religious leaders) to ensure high impact demand generation activities are effectively implemented in the State and are sustainable.
Others include coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all demand generation work-plans in the State to prevent duplication of efforts and improve efficiency; Promote diffusion of high impact demand generation strategies and best practices across the state; monitor and evaluate demand generation interventions with the use of harmonized DG reporting system and strengthen supportive supervision and quality assurance of demand generation interventions at implementation sites using harmonized supportive supervision checklist.
Of course Social and Behavior Change Communication plays a critical role in addressing all the behavioural and social aspects of disease prevention and control through appropriate approach.
According to Badejo, the implementation of social and behavior change communication committee will enhance the coordination of information dissemination on behavioural and social aspects of disease prevention and control which in turn reduces the morbidity and mortality rate in Lagos State.
He also suggested that there is need for inter-sectoral collaborations with relevant public and private sectors to promote the visibility of public health interventions, support community dialogue and improve social behavioral change across identified socio-ecological levels. “More so, it will review and develop key performance indicators for demand generation interventions and relevant tools to facilitate the use of data for decision-making.
The Lagos State Health Educator also spoke on the justification for Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Committee. He said “It is necessary for improved integrated, effective and efficient social and behavior change communication (SBCC). There is need for unified Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and Social Mobilization (SM) activities to cover all the various health programs in the State.
“The Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Committee will promote effective coordination of all SBCC & SM activities towards optimal demand generation and accessibility of the population to all healthcare interventions and services hence the need for inauguration of the committee,” he added.
Badejo also said that the committee will be able to develop a more unified and integrated policy document that will be a resource/guideline on SBCC & SM activities relating to all healthcare and related issues, interventions & services in the State. “The SBC policy document will also provide guidelines/strategies for care of the elderly and people living with disabilities and diseases which focus on elimination of social stigma, discrimination and promote good health among the citizenry.”
He said Social and behavior change communication (SBCC) committee would embrace one health approach with involvement of all the line Ministries such as: Ministry of Youth and Social Development, MOA, MOE, WAPA, Ministry of Information, MEPB, Ministry of Education, the 6 Primary Health Care District, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs and promote collaboration between State Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders including NUJ/MAPHI, NOA, AGPMPN, AGPNP, CSO, NGOS, private practitioners etc.
About TCI: It is an organization with the goal for the sustainability of improvements in urban health systems to increase the use of modern contraception. TCI’s innovative approach ensures government leadership and government-driven programming to enhance the scale, impact, efficiency, and sustainability of FP programs.
The TCI program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Bayer, is globally led by the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. In Nigeria, TCI is implemented by the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs (JHUCCP) and has partnered with 22 states including Lagos.
