Developing Occupational Health Communication Services for Safer Road Environment in uganda Presenting Author: Jonathan okecha Authors: Wilson Okaka1 and Jonathan Okecha Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda 1 Email:
[email protected] 2 Email:
[email protected]
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4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
INTRODUCTION ⚫
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Effective occupational health communication campaigns will enable local communities, families, institutions, or individuals to access relevant occupational health information services on road traffic accidents (RTAs) in any part of Uganda. Uganda has national occupational health and road policies but the national public communication strategy regarding the two policies is still weak or largely inaccessible to the public. RTAs is one of the most common disasters or occupational health hazards which often affect all kinds of occupations. At the same time, RTAs is one of the major sources of the national health burdens in Uganda with no public insurance. Most RTAs are caused by road safety awareness gaps.
4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
PROBLEM STATEMENT ⚫
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Although Uganda has developed and approved a multitude of national of national road and road use safety standards, policies, and regulations in the country, the frequency and intensity of the national road traffic accidents (RTAs) record has continued to be ranked or rated among the worst in the world in recent decades so far. The disaster may get worse. Most RTAs that regularly happen in Uganda are preventable because the Ugandan traffic police often attribute them to human factors or errors like: over speeding, drink-driving, poor mechanical conditions, wrong parking, or recklessness. Many RTA offences are prosecuted but there are common issues of slow court process and traffic police bribery cases. 4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
the OBJECTIVES ⚫
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To review the national RTAs occupational health hazards and the health care service in the country; To discuss the role of key stakeholders in the national occupational health policy implementation process regarding the RTAs in the country; To explain the prospects of better policy advocacy communication for traffic and road safety; and To describe the effectiveness of the national public communication strategy in the RTAs occupational health and safety policy cycle in Uganda today.
4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
METHODOLOGY ⚫
This review is based on the government policy documents, research findings, public healthcare communication theories, and internet searches conducted on effective policy communication strategy with a focus on the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the Uganda national traffic and road safety act of 1998, the second national health policy and national occupational health policy of Uganda. Additional data were obtained from Uganda Bureau of Statistics, and regular media coverage of RTAs in the country.
4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
RESULTS -1 OF 2 ⚫
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RTAs is so far one of the major occupational health hazards and contributor to the national health burdens in Uganda; The role of key stakeholders in the national occupational health policy implementation process regarding the RTAs in the country include: individuals, families or households, local communities, business or entrepreneurs, civil society, institutions, local and national governments, UN, or donors. There multiple prospects of better road use safety policy advocacy communication with a focus on ICT applications, There is lack of effective of public communication strategy in the RTAs occupational health and safety policy process.
4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
RESULTS – 2 OF 2 • • :•
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There is lack of effective national policy focus on the role of public policy awareness communication strategy; Poor service delivery system and quality infrastructure; Low public awareness and knowledge of the occupational health public policy issues and many road project failures, Poor roads, poor traffic policing, poor driving habits, drink driving, low roads construction budget support and political commitment for infrastructure investments and policing; Weak stakeholders, and low community participation roles. RTAs occupational health and safety policy advocacy communication is vital for achieving the desired awareness, attitudes, and behaviour change among all the road user community stakeholders for road use ethics.
4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
CONCLUSIONS ⚫Effective public communication is ever participatory, theory driven, ethical accountability driven; audience focused, coordinated, and gender equality sensitive. ⚫A sustainable north-south collaborative research, technology transfer, capacity building, funding, and policy strong partnerships are highly recommended for enhanced inclusive occupational health services. ⚫Policy implementation for road and occupational public policies, regulations, or road safety standards are vital for the reduction of the RTAs in Uganda. ⚫The media have a role to raise public awareness. 4THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
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2018 4th IPC Psychology Association of Kenya Secretariat. Guests of the 4th IPC Psychology Association of Kenya Secretariat 4th IPC Organising Special Sub - Committees, Sponsors; The Vice Chancellor, University Councils, Managements, Students, Technical, Support, and Administration Staff of Kyambogo university, Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda and the Keynote Speakers at the forum. Secretariat Special Committees for the 4th IPC 2018 forum Chairs, Press, Rapporteurs, Presenters, Exhibitors, & all Guests. Thank You for Your Kind Attention. May God Bless You All.
4.THNTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS 2018, 20 - 23 NOVEMBER 2018, KWALE, KENYA
