The Audiopedia Foundation is excited to announce a partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), a regional public health agency that coordinates the collective efforts of its twenty-six Member States to promote and protect the health and well-being of the Caribbean people. Established in 2011, CARPHA has been at the forefront of public health initiatives in the region, providing evidence-based policy recommendations, technical assistance, and research support.
This collaboration between Audiopedia Foundation and CARPHA marks the first time our organization has worked directly with a government organization. Together, we aim to improve access to public health education in the Caribbean region, thanks to the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The initiative will tailor Audiopedia's open-source audible learning platform to the specific needs of the Caribbean region by incorporating content on high-priority public health topics. A Public Health Audio Campaign will be rolled out in Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago, addressing key issues such as COVID-19 vaccination, non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Adopting a train-the-trainer strategy, CARPHA will facilitate the creation of a Caribbean Public Health Audio Campaign aimed at health promotion and communication professionals, as well as local organizations responsible for generating public health messages. Audiopedia Foundation will contribute by offering pertinent audio content, user-friendly hardware, and software solutions, all while incorporating guidance from local experts.
By the end of the project, the expected outcomes include raising awareness about essential Public Health messages in selected communities within CARPHA Member States, equipping professionals in five CARPHA Member States with Audiopedia technology skills to create and disseminate public health education audio messages, and enhancing the capacity of Health Communication and Promotion Professionals to develop culturally relevant health education messages using Audiopedia.
The success of this project relies on the involvement of regional stakeholders. CARPHA will work closely with partners in the Caribbean public health sector, including the Regional Health Communications Network and other stakeholders within CARPHA Member States. The project is part of the #SmartDevelopmentFund, implemented in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union.
Here is the link to CARPHA's press release.