Not Again, Cholera! – LemSIC Lebanon

Name of the activity: Not Again, Cholera!

Country/NMO: LeMSIC Lebanon

Program: Communicable Diseases

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: First-time Activity

Category: Education

Focus area: Reduce incidence of Antimicrobial Resistance

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

General description:

The “Not Again, Cholera!” activity combines local and national efforts to empower Lebanese medical students, students from all majors, the general public, refugees, and people living in villages with the necessary knowledge on the recent Cholera outbreak in Lebanon and the ways to recognize it, treat it, and prevent it, through capacity-building and awareness sessions, interactive booths, on-site visits, and collaborations for an immunization campaign.

Problem statement:

On Oct 6, 2022, the Ministry of Public Health reported the first case of cholera infection in Lebanon for 30 years. Since then, it has developed into a national outbreak, spreading to all Lebanese governates and affecting 6,400 individuals by the end of Jan 2023. Coinciding with a financial crisis and a deterioration of health, hygiene and infrastructure, cholera has disproportionately impacted vulnerable groups, including residents of rural areas, refugees, and those of lower SES.

Target groups:

• General population
• Medical students

Beneficiaries:

• Other Students
• Refugees
• Rural habitants

Objectives:

OBJ1: Increase the knowledge of medical and premedical students on cholera, its epidemiology, spread, manifestations, treatment, and prevention, and their ability to spread that knowledge to lay individuals (Phase 1).

OBJ2: Increase the knowledge of the general population and of Lebanese students on the transmission, dangers, prevention, and oral rehydration management of cholera (Phase 2).

OBJ3: Sensibilize Syrian and Palestinian refugees on cholera, its prevention in the context of their camp, symptom recognition, basic hygiene principles, and the importance of vaccination (Phase 3).

OBJ4: Help vaccinate vulnerable groups against cholera, in collaboration with governmental or non-governmental bodies (Phase 4).

Indicators of Success:

OBJ1: At least 4 CB sessions delivered to 70 medical and 30 premedical students. Average increase of at least 35% in knowledge and 50% of self-reported capacity to raise awareness.

OBJ2: At least 4 booths in university campuses attended by 400 students from 10 majors; at least 50% increase in knowledge. At least 5 awareness sessions and 3 booths in 3 middle-schools and 5 high-schools; 150 middle-school and 250 high-school participants, at least 40% increase in knowledge. At least 1,500 reach on Instagram awareness posts. At least 6 booths in 4 Lebanese districts; 400 participants from the general population with at least 40% increase in knowledge.

OBJ3: At least 200 Syrian and 200 Palestinian participants in the awareness from 2 refugee camps. At least 40% increase in positive attitudes towards cholera prevention and hygiene.

OBJ4: At least 200 individuals from 2 vulnerable groups immunized against cholera. At least 1 collaboration with an NGO or MoPH.

Methodology:

Phase 1 (Dec-Feb 2023): 3 local OCs formed (10 volunteers each). 1 presentation for med students prepared by content team, LPOs, and VPCB. CB sessions delivered to medical students by LeMSIC trainers. 2 awareness posts prepared by LPOs and VPPRC and posted on Instagram.

Phase 2 (Feb-March 2023): 1 national OC formed (20 members) headed by 3 LPOs under NPO guidance. Ideas for games and material of interactive booths and awareness sessions prepared by OC content/logistics teams and approved by NPO, VPCB, VPA (same content for all unis and schools; different content for general population depending on needs). List of schools, malls, supermarkets contacted by EA team and VPE. Booths and sessions hosted by LeMSIC volunteers and trainers; evaluations collected by eval team.

Phases 3-4 (April-May 2023): 1 infographic designed by OC design team and VPPRC. Collaborators and sources of funding for refugee visit and vaccination campaign are searched and contacted by OC heads, NPO, LPH, and VPE.”

Plans for evaluation:

Pre- and post-evaluation forms for the informative and training sessions for medical students, and for the awareness sessions at schools, assessing knowledge on cholera and its prevention.

QR code to a rapid evaluation form used at the booths on campuses and in the community (at supermarkets, malls, etc.) with random sampling. Laptop available for those without phone access.

Total “reach” of the Instagram posts will be recorded.

Number of refugees reached by each LeMSIC volunteer will be recorded as part of the on-the-ground efforts. Oral interviews will be done with randomly selected refugees to assess the change in their level of knowledge and attitudes.

The difference in the daily number of individuals accepting cholera vaccination as part of the campaign by the MoPH and WHO will be used to estimate the change in attitudes towards vaccines and preventive measures as an impact of our campaign among the general population, residents in rural areas, and refugees.”

External collaborations:

none