The Promise and Limits of Technology

Malabika Sarker, MBBS, MPH, PhD
James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh

In the lecture “The Promise and Limits of Technology”, you learned about the challenges related to community engagement in Nigeria, which include:

• Skepticism and frustration regarding the polio eradication efforts
• Mistrust of the government and concern that the focus on polio is undermining primary health care services that are needed
• Rumors and concerns about whether external stakeholders are covertly pushing other agendas: For example, contraception through the polio program
• Community members lack trust in health workers
• Some community members are uncommitted or refuse polio vaccinations

Now, answer the following questions about the challenges in Nigeria:

What do you think are some ways that technology could help address these challenges and concerns?

How is this similar to, or different than, the challenges outlined in Pakistan in the video Pakistan’s polio campaign that you watched at the beginning of this lecture?

As you reflect on these questions, recall the key considerations for using technology in community engagement, as described in the lecture:

• Know your audience
• Resources at hand
• “Iterative-ness” of your engagement
• Appropriate level of engagement
• Type of technology

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in the discussion.