Human beings have serious problems agreeing on most issues, but there is one in which there seems to be unanimity: one of the things that matters to all of us is health. Not only do we want to have good health, but we wish it to our families, friends and the community to which we belong. Most people put health ahead of money, leisure, love or power in our order of priorities.
Precisely as health is important for everyone, health communication should be rigorous, approachable, versatile, creative, innovative and strategic. Having said the above, it is important to understand that the corporate or institutional communication -which we also do in elParlante– It is legitimate to know important information and actions, however it may not be enough to propose changes of conduct. In this sense the eDu-communication for active citizenship – which includes health issues – is a process that happens where people are, allowing people to express their voice, participate and appropriate projects to strengthen their capabilities.
In this way, the du-communication for health –understanding it as part of the active community – It will seek to influence, persuade, motivate, mobilize, recreate, empower, recognize, change, sensitize, train, etc., citizens so that they have the tools to direct their lives towards healthy environments. Health needs communication and education from Beginning of life until the most advanced days, in addition to special attention during childhood and youth, and involves the family, community and work environment.
Health is a social and community construction. It is not only about knowledge, but also about habits. It is not just about knowing the food pyramid, how to put a condom or that drugs are very harmful, it is about rather, creating the conditions for people to talk about what affects them and looking for ways to transform false beliefs into concrete practices that have a positive impact on physical and mental health. Thus, the eDu-Communication for Health I need to understand people, their beliefs and values, the social and cultural norms that condition their lives. As well as engaging in a dialogue with communities to see how they identify problems, propose solutions and act to solve them.
In this way, edu-communication for health will be nothing more than the promotion of healthy lifestyles and self-care. In this field, since theParlante we have been working for several years. Some of the projects have been:
- Ravalead@s: Alcohol Guai, a series of audiovisual anti-spots built in a participatory way with a diverse group of young people from the El Raval neighborhood, to dismantle myths about supposed advantages of alcohol consumption.
2. City of Hope: a participatory video On unplanned pregnancy and another on peer violence in school. Each project has then been socialized by the young people themselves participating in the schools of Ciutat Meridiana, accompanied by a pedagogical guide designed with the Public Health Agency of Barcelona. Here is the video of the first of the projects: winner of a jury prize of the BcnZoom Festival.
3. Ñañ@s: A series of three participatory videos made with the communities of BellaMaría, Chaquizca and Guara (South of Ecuador) to promote dialogue on the sustainable development of their communities, within the framework of a project to combat Chagas disease. Initiative carried out with the Institute of Tropical Diseases of the University of Ohio.