Njala University (NU), Sierra Leone, has signed a collaboration agreement with Durham University, United Kingdom, and University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana to conduct a research project entitled ‘Evaluation of the World Health Organisation’s Risks Communication Campaigns for Substandard and Falsified Medical Products.’
The one year research project will evaluate the effectiveness of WHO’s risk communication campaigns in four African countries (Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda) to combat substandard and falsified medical products, which pose a serious threat to public and economic welfare, and will make recommendations on safer practises to help lower consumers’ risk of exposure.
The evaluation will also enable WHO and its partners to identify which campaign materials achieved the desired results, and which will require further improvements. This will provide information on current gaps in the implementation of the educational campaign and offer guidelines for potential measures that could be taken to improve the quality of medical products in Sierra Leone.
WHO’s risk communication campaigns aimed to heighten publication on the existence and effects of SF medical products in a bid to combat illicit SF trade in Sierra Leone and safeguard public health and safety. The conduct of this evaluation is pivotal in assisting WHO and its partners to assess the effectiveness of the campaign in achieving these project aims.
For further details, contact Dr Thomas Songu, Director of Information and Communication Technology, at tsongu@njala.edu.sl and Dr Ahmed Vandi, School of Community Health Sciences, at avandi1@njala.edu.sl
Ayuba Koroma Public Relations Unit, Njala University
