Overview

Support for Service Delivering Integration (SSDI-Communication) is a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) project that promotes normative and behavior change in several health areas. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU•CCP) implements the program in partnership with Save the Children in Malawi and several local organizations. An important feature of the SBCC program is that it is one among three allied projects that collectively form USAID’s SSDI-Communication program.

By 2015, SSDI-Communication envisions a Malawi where families are better able to advocate for their own health, are practicing positive health behaviors, including timely use of EHP services, and are engaging with a responsive health care system. The goal of SSDI-Communication is to contribute to progress in three critical areas: reducing fertility and population growth, which are essential for attaining broad based economic growth; lowering the risk of HIV/AIDS to mitigate the enormous impact on human resources and productivity; and, lowering maternal and infant and under-five mortality rates.

The project will have both broad national coverage through mass media, campaigns, and capacity building, as well as intensive implementation through that project’s local partners. The focal districts include: Mangochi, Machinga, Phalombe, Nsanje, Chikhwawa, Kasungu, Dowa, Salima, Lilongwe (urban and rural), Chitipa and Karonga.

Accomplishments

• Work to improve coordination and planning by developing a platform for health messaging and integrated communication strategies.
• Develop packages under multi-media campaign using a centerpiece radio program and family health booklet, developing community mobilization toolkit, and developing plan for package development over life project.
• Support capacity development of the HEU and exploring the creation of an S/BCC knowledge management system.
• Develop and document best practices, introducing new approaches to S/BCC and conduct operations research.