Stories of survival

Abstract

Film is a powerful tool for advocacy. The Survival series explores how some of the world's biggest diseases and health problems affect the poorest communities in developing countries and how these people respond.The stories told in these films vividly highlight practical, low-cost, community-led solutions to diseases ranging from malaria in Uganda, sleeping sickness the Democratic Republic of Congo, to pneumonia in the Philippines. In the first documentary on neglected diseases, we meet Ali, a farmer in Niger with 11 children who is one of 17 000 community distributors entrusted to wipe out five of the most common diseases in Niger. After relevant training, he is able to provide the necessary drugs to his village. Ali's inspiring contribution highlights the potential of task-shifting.The films are beautifully shot and carefully interwoven with impressive animation of disease lifecycles that explain the science behind key health problems. The broader social impact of such issues as maternal and child health in Bangladesh, HIV and tuberculosis in South Africa, and malnutrition and worms in Brazil are powerfully depicted; we see the devastating way illness can lay waste to livelihoods and productivity. Alongside disturbing scenes of health-care workers having to cope in challenging circumstances, there are also stories of hope that show how successful interventions can bring huge benefits with the potential to save many lives if scaled up.View Large Image Copyright © 2008 Nathan Harrison Film is a powerful tool for advocacy. The Survival series explores how some of the world's biggest diseases and health problems affect the poorest communities in developing countries and how these people respond. The stories told in these films vividly highlight practical, low-cost, community-led solutions to diseases ranging from malaria in Uganda, sleeping sickness the Democratic Republic of Congo, to pneumonia in the Philippines. In the first documentary on neglected diseases, we meet Ali, a farmer in Niger with 11 children who is one of 17 000 community distributors entrusted to wipe out five of the most common diseases in Niger. After relevant training, he is able to provide the necessary drugs to his village. Ali's inspiring contribution highlights the potential of task-shifting. The films are beautifully shot and carefully interwoven with impressive animation of disease lifecycles that explain the science behind key health problems. The broader social impact of such issues as maternal and child health in Bangladesh, HIV and tuberculosis in South Africa, and malnutrition and worms in Brazil are powerfully depicted; we see the devastating way illness can lay waste to livelihoods and productivity. Alongside disturbing scenes of health-care workers having to cope in challenging circumstances, there are also stories of hope that show how successful interventions can bring huge benefits with the potential to save many lives if scaled up.