News and Opinions  –  2018

Latin America: One Health workshop for teachers

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2018-08-30

This Summer ReAct Latin America arranged a workshop on training teachers how to use the educational material called the Alforja Educativa, the "Educational Saddlebag", a set of material produced for children to learn more about the bacterial world and resistance, all with a One Health approach.

It was a very practical workshop where the participants worked with children.

Twenty teachers and social promotors from Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, Peru and Ecuador participated in the week-long workshop. The workshop was led by ReAct Latin America and Child to Child. During the mornings teachers learned more about, and discussed concepts, tools and the group planned activities. In the afternoon these activities were practiced together with children, so it was a very practical workshop.

Alforja Educativa, the “Educational Saddlebag”, is a package of educommunication material that is made up of a set of pedagogical tools directed to boys and girls. It includes guides of activities, songs, videos and stories that approach the theme of bacterial resistance by means of ludic and experiential activities, from a multilateral vision and with a One Health approach.

“Working with children, from the promotional preventive point of view is ideal, because it generates strength. It meets children in their own environment and with their peers to make a favorable level of communication to build topics such as Mother Earth and her relationship with microorganisms and the use of antibiotics,”

says Ciria Trigos, professor and researcher at the University of Puno, Peru.

From workshop to reality in the communities

On the final day of the workshop the participants focused on planning strategies and activities how to implement their educational projects aiming to increase understanding of antibiotic resistance in their community. The activities they planned include workshops with teachers, health personnel and children in their communities during the next months. The particpants also planned awareness-raising activities, such as forums and discussions, to be conducted during World Antibiotic Awareness Week in mid November.

Delfín Buelva, coordinator of the Federation of Affiliates of the Rural Social Security of Ecuador, explains:

“We have new knowledge to apply in our communities, beginning with understanding health not only as medical care, but as part of the environment, the land, the water, the problem of production and the consumption of meat, We must understand all of this to face bacterial resistance.”

In addition the participants also formed a virtual network, Una Minga, in which they will share experiences and add new actors and allies.

A similar workshop will also be held in November in Mar del Plata, Argentina, as well as a presentation at the Generalists Physicians Assembly of Buenos Aires.