"World Heath Care Congress Affordable Health Innovations Exhibit and Awards" 7th Annual World Health Care Congress 2010

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Stigma, fear and misunderstanding, poverty, illiteracy, lack of resources all restrict access to treatment and care for the mentally ill. According to the WHO, depression will be the most common health problem in the next 20 years and the biggest burden on society both economically and socially, yet most developing countries spend less than two percent of their national budgets on mental health. Africa is experiencing the most critical health care crisis in the world with pandemics of AIDS, TB and Malaria, and some of the poorest facilities in the world. A recent study (the Mental Health and Poverty Project) showed a strong link between social deprivation, poverty and mental illness. One in five South Africans will suffer from a mental illness, yet only a fraction of people in need of help will have access to treatment and care in their communities. Illiteracy is a potentially life-threatening issue and health is at its lowest where literacy is poor. The traditional model of patient education – leaving written brochures and pamphlets (usually in English) behind in rural areas – has become outdated, boring, and selective in its target. The world is changing. Illiteracy and poverty are on the increase, and appropriate healthcare communication has become critical to the health of all people. The need has arisen for a new form of communication and instruction that can instill knowledge in all people – literate or not.

The Speaking Book offers – and delivers – an innovative, interactive, and influential alternative to patient awareness and learning. Through the medium of a hard-covered, 16-page book with an accompanying 30-second-per-page audio track, the Speaking Book literally talks to the reader, in his own language, about critical health care issues. The Books have been recorded in 15 different languages, often by local celebrities, to meet the needs of the community they serve. They are colorful, interactive and multi-lingual – and is a tool that can be seen, read, heard, and understood regardless of reading ability. And they’re battery operated so they’re not dependent of electricity either. Finally, everyone can have access to critical health care information – and have their questions about health and treatment answered even in the absence of trained health are professionals. Research has shown that each Book is shown to a minimum of 27 people - and in some truly amazing places too like weddings, shebeens (informal bars), at the hairdresser, even at football games. Teen suicide is a very serious concern in South Africa and our teen suicide prevention book showed a 58% knowledge gain, and tested against trainers, results were within 5% showing that in the absence of trained staff, the Speaking Book can stand alone as an education and empowerment tool.

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