Guinea
In Guinea, Breakthrough ACTION leverages social and behavior change to enhance the effectiveness of integrated health, Ebola, global health security, and COVID-19 initiatives.
Since 2018, Breakthrough ACTION Guinea has collaborated with National Health Promotion Service and the National Agency for Health Security to enhance the impact of key Government of Guinea health initiatives: integrated health (malaria and maternal, newborn, and child health), Ebola, global health security, and COVID-19. Breakthrough ACTION Guinea used evidence-based and innovative approaches to continuously strengthen social and behavior change (SBC) programming, promoting healthier behaviors across these areas. Efforts included comprehensive SBC campaigns via mass media and community engagement, as well as capacity building for a multitude of actors (community leaders, government focal points, journalists, health professionals) at national and sub-national levels. These interventions, collectively, aimed to bolster Guinea’s health systems, improve emergency preparedness and risk communication, and encourage community engagement. Core to the program is a strong focus on capacity strengthening at all levels—national, regional, prefectural, and community—to better coordinate, plan, and implement high-quality, data-driven SBC interventions.
Focus On
Outcome Harvesting
In 2023, Breakthrough ACTION Guinea conducted outcome harvesting to evaluate the success of its zoonotic disease portfolio, including COVID-19. outcome harvesting is a novel methodology that, through the review of existing program documentation, identifies both intended and unintended results of a program’s efforts.
The report is available in English and French.
Featured Resources
Anthrax: The Guinean Context and Social and Cultural Determinants
This literature review on anthrax incorporated the results of a qualitative study on zoonotic diseases carried out by Breaktrhough ACTION.
Community Dialogue Guide and Image Box to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination in Guinea
Deux outils conçus pour renforcer l'engagement communautaire et promouvoir l'acceptation du vaccin COVID-19 : le guide de dialogue communautaire et les images.
Lassa Fever: The Guinean Context and Social and Cultural Determinants
This literature review incorporates the results of a qualitative study on zoonotic diseases carried out by Breakthrough ACTION.
Why we do this work
Guinea’s National Health Development Plan 2015–2024 focuses on improving public health by strengthening disease prevention, maternal and child health, and the healthcare system. However, limited coordination, staffing, and resources within the Ministry of Health slow social and behavior change efforts, leaving much of this work to civil society and external partners. The Ebola epidemic (2014-2015) further impacted maternal and child health behaviors, leading to low service utilization. To address these challenges, Guinea is rebuilding health services and strengthening public health communication and community engagement, with SBC programming and partnerships playing a vital role in promoting healthier behaviors.
