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S. Acting out stories
In Lardin Gaa, Nigeria. *j0riPs wi2.) healthl ,,s.,es are often acted out by
those who h(ear triem. Firs a.sic,y is :uld 'y group gi leader. 'Fhen one nerson
repeats it and cveiyorie corn!nents on ;'o,,. 'Aeii 11 w.ris retold, ,inaZt details were
forgotten, mnd how s !Sro',.:s are often ad('Icd to or improved as
learners retell them.) Finally, t e group .*cts out thw! story. Here is an
example.'
There wos n vomn called Pokte wn .ohd
cans and bottles. All Around her vrd wete
Cans and bOttite wi:h water in thin.
Mdram Poi, tao"VoJtOjnw wai ;o. Vy
getting fever. 0)r-day. 1t.- tnyhad , ,., ,
On3 day the heard :thou a healtr .Aorke,C!,tBq to
her v,liae. SGle wont end told :iira|ut hur stan's
de;-Iii. So !he health worker won, with Madam r'okta
iOt..!r hOuse. Whr they jaei'.d, inoquitOes were
bu--irng 'v.iwhere bneumse it iwslate afltrnoon'. The
health w.trk'er saw the trns and bottlet lviiq around
he9dache 3nd a hih 1-iver with clhillL. Madam
POka wont 1o lnesv.)ee and lu;-nt W4fen!, in then. Aad lie
(aspirinwith callein) to,Ih)boy, but
not brinq The te,n.r down. So h;t t*'k;, t0
the native healer. v,ho rook a kroife end :ur tl'H
bay'. chhhSt and sugrked owt sorn-.; t!ond.
._.' ... en', g little °eum m ;rkaullers'
" ibeby is .,itncsl a tha water.
- - .
59 oltcw1i *O !a t.Idsm Po 13
- "ld atrrniquirot-5
Soon l ter, twe toy died. M.adoa P .ktj -.-s _e l.m .31eria atifd(ie.T ]eth or
unhappy for a long .:re. Sho , t ty d;leaned ut he- ord. rnr.he told her ,heshou'd
understand why Ina biV htd hAd c ruh hrin.l h-., othe childten To he
malaria.
cltaink ev-ivv
She
r%,onth
ihO!,i.)hi IL,
.-eriup *.h e oy .4a ,t l.J-,ay c:.uo d r,'live .ar 0ff/irrpil's (t)o'r .a'r vl aria.
meant to live, Tihey becairit rc:ahh:nr ,anc allwere h.powar.
After the stcely has been acted out, r:,; jn -I ili oup , ask. each other questions
about it and make up sonus ,bo!!. the main h-a~th mesag.s. With all this
repetition 1hrol ig stories, rring, Jisv.,s;:. anMi .ongs, pe.t.le remember well.
7. Analyzing stories for hidden or harrafil! mnesages
Sometimes stories used tor he.aith teacnir, .:arry hidden m!e:saues that were
not intended. If story telling is to help people irn i.orfi:ence in thanmeives and
pride in their own culture, care must bu taken nDt to make iloca ways or parsons
look all bad, and outside ways or persotns look all good. If the weakness of a ;ocal
custom is pointed out, a benreficia) custom .!Iould also be mentioned. If a srory
tells of a traditional healer who does SOlnething harnful, it is best it another
traditional healer (raier han an outsider) fnds out ard howr people a better
way.
In the story about maldria, notice Ptat M.a-tan, Pokta first tries self-care (she
buys Caffenol). This tails. Nex: :-he fjoe. to a traditionIlh5.,,ver. His treatment
also fails, and may even have made the (:hild ,,.rse. At last she goes to an outside
health worker, whose advice ; sucCaOsful.
The hidden mess;ages inthe story are "Su, f-care is wron ."".raditlonal
medicine iswrong," and "Outside ad.vice is right."',Although rhefstorh adam
Pokta is in many ways excellent, .,ch rr.-essage:; can acru, Iywaken people's
confiderce in their own experience and abiIi ty to iii arisvera for thtemrselves.
Health workers need to an!,,,Ze the ston-:: they use t.l!-iake sure that hidden
messages are community strengihening. cjre this story from Lardin GdbCs
with the story from Inais at the b ' ning i t.- Czaote,-. chis
'Adorted frnm t
a book litcald H.alth "[2omhiungfo WK.'rC4 fic.-J: ,Sinri., (I'rij.. cod Sanr, edi leO by Oavid
Hfllo. Avw ;ab;,I,,nr'n MAt' itirerlva Iuai. S'. .Wh t, . OI,7,U.S..
17-,
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