1. JAMES ATTA AGLAH BEd. Health Sciences Dip. Health Information
HOW TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY BASED MEETINGS PRESENTATION FOR NGOs IN NORTHERN GHANA
JAMES ATTA AGLAH
BEd. Health Sciences
Dip. Health Information

2. OUTLINE Planning & Contact Pre-meeting Activities The Meeting Process
Conclusion
Post-meeting Activities

3. Planning
Decide:
Expected day/period for the meeting
Decide on the number of people expected to participate
Arrange for items that will be needed at the meeting eg. Water, print materials, etc

4. Planning
Contact:
Zonal/Focal person in area (this also applies to the health teams in most communities)
(Zonal/FP) Key personalities inviting them/confirming scheduled date & time
(where appropriate, invitation letters should follow these verbal invitations/agreement
By phone or follow-up-reminder visits (ZC/FP)
In the case of durbar/large numbers, appropriate avenues must be used to send out announcements

5. Pre-meeting Activities
Organizers must be present on time & venue arranged accordingly
ZC/FP could take the morning to call on key persons (chiefs, opinion leaders) remind them of the time of the meeting
In such case, ZC/FP must return to venue on/before time
MEETING DAY

6. The Meeting Process Start meeting on time and work within time
Follow regular protocol: Prayer, Song, etc
Lead person steers meeting
Welcome participants
Allow for introduction (all participants where possible / some (Chiefs & special groups present))

7. Ask participants to give the purpose of the meeting
The Meeting Process
Ask participants to give the purpose of the meeting
Highlight: To discuss 5 difficult behaviours or practices in Yagaba (Northern Ghana)
Praise participants for responses
Pose the following questions:
What are cultural behaviours? ………. Responses
Give some good cultural behaviours that promote MCH in this community………….. Responses (Link this discussion to what pertains elsewhere / NG)

8. Pose the following questions:
The Meeting Process
Pose the following questions:
What are some of the cultural practices here that hinders MCH?
Agree on points from various contributions
Write this list on a visible board eg flip chart
Expand this question to include practices they know in other communities
Take agreed list sequentially and stimulate a discussion on how participants can help change these behaviours

9. Write out agreed approaches to change on another visible board/screen
The Meeting Process
Write out agreed approaches to change on another visible board/screen
Allow for an ice-breaker
Summarize meeting:
Go through agreed points – allow participants to do this and quickly making sure you don’t restart the meeting all over again.
Highlight agreed expected change activities
Agree on next meeting schedule where appropriate

10. Conclusion Thank participants for their presence and contribution.
Single out chiefs, opinion leaders, and other special people who make it to the meeting
Follow closing protocol (prayer/song/etc)
When available, share part-up items and close.
Where applicable, Zonal Coordinator/Focal Person arrange for departure of participants

11. Post Meeting Activities
(Zonal Coordinator/Focal Person) Call participants to thank them for making it to the meeting.
Where PA was used in conveying the meeting, use same method in this process
Send feedback of key agreements to participants/community

12. THANK YOU!!!