I was part of a six-member team of students from a variety of backgrounds. For ten weeks we lived in the small fishing town of Bagamoyo on the Indian ocean. Bagamoyo is located 65 km north of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city, which translates to a four hour ride on an overcrowded bus complete with chicken and goats. SIHA has been organizing the Tanzania project since 1993. Past projects have included a study of hookworm and anemia in school-age children, water quality testing and a survey on the knowledge and use of bednets to prevent malaria.
PSI is involved in the social marketing of health care products.
Social Marketing is a newer approach to health promotion, where the principles of business are applied to health care. The idea is based on the observation that one can only get people to use a certain product, like a condom, if the item has a value. By selling the product at a price people can afford, rather than giving it away for free, one can ensure that it is actually used, because money has been spent. Another benefit of social marketing is sustainability. Because the person selling the product, usually the owner of a shop selling everything from beans to batteries, makes a small profit with every item sold, the continued supply of the product is ensured.