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Health Messenger

Health Messenger Magazines

Objective The goal of this program is to strengthen medical knowledge and skills of health agents to ensure the medical self-reliance of the populations in the near future.

General presentation

On top of its medical activities on the field, AMI created the « Health Messenger » magazine, a publication for professional training intended mainly for local health agents. By improving and updating the knowledge and skills of medics, Health Messenger contributes to develop the state of health of the populations by bringing a technical but also psychological support to remote health agents. Health Messenger is also distributed to and through local NGOs, international NGOs, United Nations agencies and the various departments of the Ministry of Health of each country. In 2004, « Health Messenger » was distributed in Afghanistan and in Thailand, on the Thai-Burmese border (« Health Messenger » Cambodia was handed over to the local NGO PSP in February 2004).

A specific issue for each country: The various articles of the magazine are all written in English and in the main language of the community. Health agents often have only basic knowledge of the English language, so they cannot have access to most of the principal medical books. The magazine offers them the information they need in their own language and enable them to improve their English skills. All the articles are drafted taking into account the local context.

The editorial board: Each issue is written by a local editorial team working together with the medical staff of the country: professionals and health experts. Articles may come from the editorial team of the Health Messenger, members of the editorial board or from health professionals.

Topics: Each issue has a minimum of 40 pages made up of 6 to 15 articles of different technical levels according to the readership. The magazine often deals with a main topic determined by the local context (malaria, water and sanitation, nutrition, mother and child health, etc.).

Since 1994, the medical magazine Salamati has been offering professional training to Afghan health agents.

Localization Writing in Kabul and distribution all over Afghanistan.

Number of copies distributed 26,000 copies distributed in 32 provinces of Afghanistan. 25,000 copies were bilingual Dari/Pashto (official languages) and 1,000 were in English.

Beneficiaries Direct beneficiaries: Between 30,000 and 40,000 professionals of which 20,000 health agents – but the magazine is usually read by 3 to 4 people on top of the one who receives it. Indirect beneficiaries: Families and communities and the Afghan population in general because they will benefit from better health care.

AMI’s team on this project 1 expatriate: Project coordinator 2 local staff: 1 chief editor, 1 journalist/distribution manager

It has its roots in the Afghan Salamati and has been published since 1995 in Thailand. Four issues were published in 2004 on the following topics: reproductive health care, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS and nutrition.

Localization It is partly written in Bangkok and then on the Mae Sot base (operational station for the Umpien refugee camp). Distribution on the camps of the Thai-Burmese border.

Number of copies distributed 9,000 copies distributed in the refugee camps and in the migrant communities in Thailand. The magazine is written in Burmese and in English.

Beneficiaries Direct beneficiaries: 9,000 readers Health agents and social workers who speak Burmese, working in Myanmar or on the border. Indirect beneficiaries: The Burmese and Thai populations living on both sides of the border.

AMI’s team on this project 1 expatriate: project coordinator 2 local staff: 1 chief editor, 1 secretary / administrator

They are health sensitizing tools, as much as an educational support for teachers who work in displaced people’s camps. These magazines are also a window on the world thanks the entertainment sections.