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When
showbiz comes to Khayelitsha
Diabetes education can be a very dreary subject. But a group of collaborators
turned it into great fun when they brought it to the stage.
Over the past few years
there has been an increase in the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such
as hypertension and diabetes in the urban black population. The residents
of Site C, Khayelitsha are no exeption to this rule.
Contributing factors
include increased urbanization and economic changes, which in turn expose
people to risk factors including smoking, alcohol intake, a diet high
in saturated fats, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Since 2000 a number
of Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been active in a collaborative
project to halt the steady march of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
among the residents of the area. Collaborators include the MRC, the
School of Public Health at UWC, the Department of Medicine from UCT, the
Provincial Administration of the Western Cape and Zanempilo, an NGO.
Their
research in the area indicated that street theatre and drama would be
the best ways of getting health messages across to the community. The CHWs,
researchers and health service staff crafted health messages to tell
the community how they could prevent diabetes, enlisted the help of a professional
to write a script, trained Xhosa- speaking professional actors and
even recruited a community member as part of the cast… and
the fun could begin!
The drama was first performed
on Diabetes Day (13 November 2003). Almost 300 people watched
and enjoyed the drama. Further performances were held at two other
venues in Site C. That the audience enjoyed and, more importantly, took
the messages to heart, was clear from the questionnaires the CHWs asked
them to complete. The cast received many requests for more performances
in the areas and in neighbouring communities.
According to Dr Hazel
Bradley, a researcher who participated in the project, the collaborative
nature of the work is the key to its success.
"Involving the CHWs
and community members in the planning, implementation and evaluation of
the drama has built capacity and added to the sustainability of the project,"
she says.
The performance was repeated in the pharmacy at the Nolungile Community
Health Centre, Site C.
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The drama,
set in a spaza shop in the township, tells the story of Mr Mkize
who is celebrating his birthday.
Ntombizini,
his assistant at the shop, is worried because Mr Mkize does not seem
to be enjoying his day since he hasn't eaten as much meat nor drunk
as much as most of his guests.
Mr
Mkize explains to her and his brother ‘ the
Professor' that he has changed his lifestyle because of diabetes
and he demonstrates taking his medication regularly and not sharing
it with others.
"I
did not know anything about diabetes but today you came and I learned
so much.
Keep
it up, please come again." - Community member, Site C.
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Actors
doing their bit in Site, C, Khayelitsha. |
A captive audience watched the street performance. |
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