Our Right to Healthcare

In early 2014, 12 youth participants in the My Rights, My Voice programme in Nepal took part in a two-week Participatory Video project in Surkhet District. The group learned new video skills and planned three advocacy films to improve access to health services in the three districts where the programme operates. The team of four from Surkhet District made this film, about the need for solar power in health posts, particularly to assist deliveries for women in labour.

A monitoring visit by Oxfam Nepal, just 3 months after the participatory video training, showed some important results from the community and district-level screenings. In all three districts the videos have catalysed successful campaigns that show results! 

In Banke the local Community Forestry Committee, with powers to distribute funds provided by the National Park, has agreed to pay for lab equipment for the health post. With help from the MRMV team, locals are now lobbying for a lab assistant to be employed to run the new laboratory. 

In Surkhet the impact of the video has surpassed all expectations...not only was the local Village Development Committee (VDC) persuaded to buy a solar panel and light for their local health post, but the young people behind the video also campaigned for 5 District Health Posts in the region to get solar lights thanks to funding help of the community radio station. 

The Dailekh group tackled a very complex issue which affects the entire country; and probably can't be solved in the immediate short term. However they also have reason to be very proud of their achievements. Following a screening, the District Parliamentarian, who was not very aware of the issue, has been questioning local government officials as to why the availability of free medicines was not raised earlier. He has also committed to raise the issue for national debate in parliament in Kathmandu.

Community screenings are such a vital part of the PV process! This is the means to engage stakeholders and decision makers and make change happen . It is also a space for reflection by the community on the issues that matter most to them; it is their chance to see and hear one another in new ways and to unlock the solutions and ideas to support locally-led change. Insightshare's recent publication is a great resource guide on Community Screenings for Participatory Video.

This short film includes highlights from the 3 films produced, and should be screened as an introduction to Journey Towards Light, submitted separately.