NEWS: Successful PhotoVoice dissemination at CMC Vellore

RESPIRE’s 4CCORD PhotoVoice study aims to explore the human burden of living with Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) across four settings – Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Pakistan.

Congratulations to the project team based at the Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs (RUHSA), CMC for delivering three dissemination exhibitions and workshops in August 2024.

The events aimed to improve CRD care in the Tamil Nadu region by:

• raising awareness of the human burden of CRD at local, regional and state level
• facilitating collective action from stakeholders, communities and patients
• promoting the use of PhotoVoice as an advocacy tool to influence policy.

Photo exhibitions and workshops were delivered in Kilalathur and Latheri villages, prompting members of the public, community leaders and officials to learn about the views and experiences of people living with CRD.

All activities were inaugurated by the Block Medical Officer of K V Kuppam (one of 20 government administrative blocks in the Vellore Administrative District), who was joined by the President of each Panchayat (the local government administration at village level) and community members, including school students.

Participants were shown video stories about the realities of living with CRD, narrated by patients who participated in the RESPIRE study. Each event ended with feedback provided by the Block Chairman and President of the Panchayat.

The dissemination activity in Latheri village on 08 August was further attended by the Counselor, President and Vice President of Latheri, the Government Official of Latheri, and the School Correspondent of Sri Ramakrishna Primary & Nursery School.

On 17 August 2024, a state-level dissemination workshop and photo exhibition was delivered in Chennai-- a culmination of the content delivered at community level.

The dissemination workshop was inaugurated by the Principal of CMC, and was attended by:

• Additional Director of National Health Mission, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu
• Additional Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu
• Professor of Respiratory Medicine from MMC Chennai
• Director of Health Services of Thirupathur
• Director of Population Research in Karkinos Health Care and former Senior Professor at Christian Medical College Vellore
• Professor & Head of Respiratory Medicine at CMC Vellore
• Doctors and health personnel from RUHSA Department.

The background and the results of the PhotoVoice site study were presented by the Principal Investigator,while the methodology was presented by the Co-Principal Investigator. Video stories of two people living with CRD were shown, narrated by study participants.

These presentations were followed by a discussion between policy makers, administrators and RUHSA staff on policy for CRD in Tamil Nadu and use of PhotoVoice as a strong advocacy tool for generating awareness and informing policy makers. A consensus decision was taken to create a guidance document and recommendations for CRD policy in the state of Tamil Nadu to provide directive for policy formation to provide better respiratory health and care for CRD.