Applied Communication and Risk Communication
Field Epidemiologists –Mozambique and Angola
By Dee Bennett
May 7, 2012
19 April 2012 Ambushed!
 The morning started
with ambush interviews. Four participants
were interviewed on camera on the street
by
David – mocked interviews assumed there was a major outbreak in country
and what was
the government
doing about it.
Good examples to dissect – on message, transitioning, and not contributing to the crisis. As nerve wracking as ambush interviews can be, the participants told us that these were great “real world” experiences and wanted even more.
Our producer and camera man,
Sampson. Great job!
During breaks between ambush interviews the camera man told us how much he had enjoyed and has learned from the workshop….He does TV programming and news and finds he has to “coach” interviewees to get statements…. He saw the instruction could be used for lots of different subjects other than health….couldn’t have written it better myself!
Last Thoughts-
Each workshop that we’ve done with the field epidemiologists has been different and unique because of its participants. Each group has been impressive in their commitment and dedication to a tough job.
For this workshop, the participants from Angola and Mozambique were mostly women – 8 out of 9! – and very diverse in their jobs and experience….We had community educators and epidemiologists and ministry officials….Their experience in communication ranged from expert spokespeople for a government ministry to community workers specializing in interpersonal communication at the village or community level.
For this workshop they were asked to step outside of their comfort zone…be in front of a camera which they never have had to do….Role play as a community worker advising, counseling, and interviewing a mother or grandmother where an outbreak has occurred…or respond to rumors and misinformation in front of an ambush interview….We saw them transform themselves – however briefly – into both interviewee and interviewer.
And in each film clip and role playing exercise, we watched them own the communication lessons and critique themselves and make the adjustments that made them better and more effective as public health officers….
It was indeed a pleasure to meet them and to be able to spend these four days with them….All of us look forward to meeting them again soon.
Contributions by Efua Orleans-Lindsay, David Zucker, Fernando Garcia
PREVENT Project is funded by USAID.
Photos by Efua Orleans-Lindsay (1-2, 4-6, 10) and
Fernando Garcia (7-8, 11) 2012 | FHI 360
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