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From the President • “… health information professionals in Africa must take the lead in improving the health of the society. This should be done through active involvement in ensuring those providing healthcare as well as consumers access accurate and timely information. Health information professionals should take more proactive roles in ensuring this is achieved.” Message from Nasra Gathoni to delegates attending the Public Access to Health Information (PAHI) Workshop , Senegal, June 2011
Aim , objectives & outcomes (1) AIM The overall aim of the workshop is to discuss & share ideas on how to build partnerships through libraries and communication bridges from libraries which will be effective in getting reliable health information flowing through to communities and citizens, where this information can make a real difference.
Aim , objectives & outcomes (2) OBJECTIVES • Professional roles changing/ expand through partnership • Map what is being done • Use expertise in the group • Principles for evaluating reliable health information • Share & learn together
Aim , objectives & outcomes (3) OUTCOMES • Implications of PAHI for existing & new Country Chapters of AHILA • Workshop deliberations to feed into Resolutions for General Assembly around activities for reporting back on at next AHILA
Summary of Purpose • How can librarians provide more & better information to the public? • Workshop will facilitate experiences & discussion on ways of working based on partnership
Exploring partnership (1) A definition Partnership can be defined as a collaborative relationship between two or more parties based on trust, equality and mutual understanding for the achievement of a specified goal. Partnerships involve risks as well as benefits, making shared accountability critical. WHO African Partnerships for Patient Safety
Exploring partnership (2) • There are many opportunities for libraries to get involved with health information work (despite all the agencies and NGOs already involved). • The best type of involvement is through partnerships, where libraries can offer: • Existing skills and materials • Connections with the community
Exploring partnership (3) IFLA/FAIFE Principles The 5 Ps • Partnerships (clinical staff, health NGOs, patients, etc) • Participation (of the whole community/all stakeholders) • Presence(of librarians) • Protocols (clear agreements on the role of the library) • Privacy (for individuals)
Exploring partnership (4) Principle 1 Partnership • Health problems are addressed more effectively by a health professional/library partnership than by either alone • Partnerships that include NGOs and community groups are even stronger • When the problem is information (as the basis of prevention) partnership is at its most effective • Including the library in a partnership (as an established information provider) is very effective
Exploring partnership (5) Principle 2 Participation • Top down non-participatory programmes are not successful • Involve all stakeholders • Involve local communities • Importance of consultation & active listening • Importance of clear communication
Exploring partnership (6) Principle 3 Presence (of librarians) • Outside libraries in clinics/ health centres etc helps make information work more effective • Librarians widely accepted as a helpful source of information that is important to health and well-being • Builds on acceptance of their role in health information literacy training
Exploring partnership (7) Principle 4 Protocols • Involving librarians in health information raises questions • What can librarians do? • Provide enquirers with information prepared by experts • Offer the library as a base for information campaigns • What can’t they do? • Deal with individual health problems • Clear protocols are needed when the library is included in a partnership.
Exploring partnership (8) Principle 5 Privacy • Essential that library offers individuals the same privacy as they would in clinic or hospital settings • The library profession usually includes statements about user privacy in its Codes of Ethics • This principle needs to be very strongly embedded in any partnership that includes libraries.
Exploring partnership (9) Barriers / Benefits ( 2 Bs ) Barriers • no clear boundary between partners' responsibilities • reluctance to share information • lack of time to commit to partnership, esp. early stages • potential conflicts in philosophies of the partners • lack of training among partners on substantive issues and partnership working
Exploring partnership (10) BenefitsTEAM Together Everyone Achieves More • Expanding outreach by reaching new audiences, creating and enhancing programs and services • Sharing talents and resources • Minimising duplication of effort • Improvements in quality of services • Maximizing the impact of partners through joint action and building human capital and community support
Exploring partnership (11) Partnerships are about people, first and foremost. The most effective partnerships … consist of committed, hard working people who communicate and work well with each other. The quality of relationships between individuals is crucial. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.....indeed it is the only thing that ever does!“ Margaret Mead
Case Study Template (1) Title of Project - Strengthening Resource management in five remote nursing schools Brief Description -The *ZUKHWA/THET project provided volunteer nursing/midwifery tutors (VNTs) in understaffed rural/provincial schools (from 2010) for three years. This enabled five local staff to do BSc courses at the Post Basic Nursing training (University of Zambia) to enable them become tutors. At a recent meeting with the five VNTs and THET the top priority identified was the need for improvements in library services, which would be sustainable. Phi was approached for advice and a multidisciplinary training workshop on resource management culminating in ‘Building Strong Library Associations’ training was agreed . *Zambia UK Health Workforce Alliance ( ZUKWHA)
Case Study Template (2) Country - Zambia Partners involved - Phi; Tropical Health & Education Trust; ITOCA; University of Zambia Librarians; Teaching Aids at Low Cost (TALC) Key Contacts -Director, Phi & Senior staff in all organisations plus a nominated lead from the VNTs Key Outcomes - NB Sought but not confirmed • Raising awareness of need to support resource manager development/library and other service improvements • Increased knowledge and understanding of the role of resource managers • Potential for improved services for users • revitalised Country chapter of AHILA in Zambia
Case Study Template (3) • What were the barriers and how did you overcome them? • Complexity overcome by regular & frequent communication • Unreliable technology overcome by patience, tolerance, use of mob phones & re-scheduling • Lack of clarity over roles & responsibilities overcome by flexibility with firmness by all partners; plus courteous communication What would you do differently next time? • Think how long the project should take & treble the time • Do not make assumptions about roles & responsibilities; be explicit & write down & get agreement from all partners. Do not start the project without this. Review regularly & revise as necessary Other comments Project progressing well through excellent , regular & frequent communication & relationship building
Mapping partnerships (1) What factors enable success? Clarity of • Aim ; it is agreed and understood by all the partners • Leadership; it is effective • Role; each partner is identified and their role is clear to others in the partnership
Mapping partnerships (2) Other success factors • Shared ownership; all partners feel there is 'something in it for them' • Dedicated time (and resources); for the administration and operation of the partnership • Recognition of different organisational cultures within the partnership • Supportive atmosphere ; ability within the partnership to accept suggestions, ideas & address disagreement or conflict
Partnership potential; role of libraries (1) Libraries can help people get relevant information for various purposes: • To help them with avoidanceof the causes of ill-health through knowledge • To help them take advantage of preventionprogrammes such as immunisation • To help them get the best treatment for health problems
Partnership potential; role of libraries (2) Libraries have a great deal to offer • Skills • Skills that librarians have (acquiring, organising and presenting information) • Skills that librarians can teach – Information Literacy • Materials • Health information corners for the public • Bibliographies and documents for doctors and researchers • Premises • For meetings • Publicity through posters and events
Partnership potential; role of libraries (3) • The library is a potential community focal point; could it partner & help extend the community activities with clinics? with NGO health information projects? with government health campaigns? • Can visits/speakers from community health workers, nurses, doctors, NGO project workers be organised? • Can activities take place both inside & outside the Library?
Partnership potential; role of libraries (4) Library health information corners • Libraries can collect the leaflets, manuals and other materials created by government agencies and NGOs. • These materials are free, but often some work is necessary to obtain them. • The library can make them available for users to take away (or consult in the library if there is only one copy). • A special health information corner is one way to do this. Is it the best way? Are there other ways?
Partnership potential; role of libraries (5) Learning groups and clubs • Can Libraries/ians partner with local school teachers? Together organise activity and learning groups on health issues? • Can they partner with community health workers & jointly lead groups, using posters and other materials for learning • Can they consider guest visits by nurses, project workers etc. to form part of programme for the group • Can they consider accessing films or videos to show the group? Other ideas?
Partnership potential; role of libraries (6) Librarians outside the library: who can be partners? • Can Librarians promote health information by visits to venues such as: • Schools • Churches, and other meeting places such as • Markets • Bus and railway stations • Can Librarians organise publicity in local newspapers and radio stations? • Library representation at community and development project meetings. How can Libraries get involved?
Partnership potential; role of libraries (7) Information literacy activities • Is it your experience that people need help in understanding • Health information pamphlets and brochures • Prescriptions and doctor’s instructions • Publicity materials such as posters. • Can librarians can help individuals interpret information? • Can librarians also work with groups to improve general information literacy?
