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Health Education and Training (HEAT)

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Translators without Borders

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Translators without Borders

Translators without Borders (TWB) is an exciting organisation that's keen to help HEAT extend its reach more widely across Africa and potentially into South America. By helping to break down language barriers, TWB ensures people have access to the information they need.

Knowledge can save lives. It lifts people out of poverty, ensures better health and nutrition, improves economies and facilitates education.  Access to it is critical. But even the right information is worthless in the wrong language. TWB facilitates the transfer of knowledge by connecting aid groups with professional translators to make sure that information is accessible to the people who need it the most.

HEAT is currently working with TWB to translate three HEAT maternal health modules into Swahili. In December last year, the Director of the United Nations office in Kenya stated that maternal health is failing to improve. A contributing factor is that health education and training in Kenya is usually delivered in English, rather than Swahili. A study by Common Sense Advisory, “The Need for Translation in Africa", recently reported that 63% of respondents said greater access to translated information could have prevented the death of someone in their family or circle of friends.

Translating HEAT's maternal health resources into Swahili (a language used by more than 60 million people) is a simple, bold move to ensure health information is fully accessible. It will help:

  • Address a knowledge gap for community health workers
  • Improve maternal health service delivery and care
  • Improve outcomes for the millions of Swahili-speaking patients who will receive relevant health information in their first  language.

Contact us

HEAT Programme
International Development Office
The Open University
Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
United Kingdom

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