The Youth@Work Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Warriors have started visiting communities in and around Honiara to raise awareness on the effects of NCDs.
In an effort to reduce the increasing number of cases in the country, the group covered a number of places including Tanagai area and White River Clinic, Rove Clinic, Independence Valley at White River, Rifle Range and Lengakiki.
The program started last Friday and will be on-going.
The NCD Warriors program aims to educate young people and communities to promote local food and healthy lifestyles and help to combat the spread of NCDs in the Pacific.
The campaign started in January last year.
The Youth@Work NCD Warriors team have found ways to help combat NCDs through advocacy, fun activities and training for schools.
Although the group’s initial focus was on schools, they have found the new community-centred approach effective.
The NCD warriors’ team went out to communities raising awareness about NCDs and discussing healthy eating, giving out pamphlets and giving out healthy snacks.
The Youth@Work Partnership and Innovation’s Group Leader Simon Tomasusu said unlike visiting schools, they move out to communities and did a ‘sport show’.
“We found in some of the places we visited that some of these people only find out about NCD when they go to clinics to get treatments, and so the turnout was great.”
Presentations to the community were mostly informal, a method in which they felt comfortable to interact and discuss with the community.
In addition to this new approac, they also educate communities using drama, acting out scenes that will depict the effects of NCD and ways to avoid its risks.
Next week, the team is planning on visiting rural areas in central and east Honiara.
Youth@Work is implemented by SPC, in partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. Youth@Work is an initiative to tackle youth unemployment in the Solomon Islands and is funded by the Australian Aid bilateral program, with assistance from its partner ministries.
