By Stacey
Woods, 2nd year MDP student
My name is Stacey
Woods; I was born in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree,
Ojibwe-Cree, Dene, and the birthplace of the Red River Métis, also colonially
known as Winnipeg, Manitoba, or Treaty 1 territory, where I grew up with my
parents and older brother. My background and ancestral ties are rooted in
Ukraine and Britain, which actively inform my worldviews and perspectives as a
woman, a daughter, a sister, a niece, and a friend to many in my circle and
outstretched community. I wanted to begin by stating where I place myself
within knowledge production. This goes for not only for this blog post but, for
wherever I go in spaces where teaching and learning are being done. The work
that is illustrated in this presentation is both directly and indirectly
impacted by intersections of my identity and socially constructed sense of
reality.
Recently, I had the
incredible opportunity to contribute to knowledge translation efforts with the
National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), where I explored
the evidence and knowledge on information campaigns on Tuberculosis (TB) in
Canada’s North. In the expansive and often isolated landscapes of Canada's
North, TB intervention, planning, and mitigation strategies present unique
challenges that are distinct to certain regions due to infrastructure, resource
management, and coordination among multiple sectors and partners. Advances in
TB diagnostic technologies, coupled with proactive community-based initiatives,
are reshaping how local community-based approaches to TB testing, screening,
and treatment in Northern Arctic regions look like (i.e., regional planning,
clinical operations, health human resources, etc.). Yet, the cornerstone of
these advancements lies in effective TB information campaigns for understanding
the effectiveness of knowledge mobilization for TB awareness.
These campaigns (i.e.,
social media, radio stations, news broadcasts, print media, online resources,
organizational programs, community-based initiatives, etc.) are not just about
spreading awareness—they are about empowering communities and building
capacity. By educating individuals about TB, these campaigns encourage early
detection and prompt treatment seeking. They play a crucial role in bridging
knowledge gaps and ensuring health care resources are brought forward as an
option and piece of knowledge to encourage and promote wellness practices
(i.e., screening, diagnosis, symptom and disease management, etc.) for
those who need them most, regardless of the logistical, geographical, and
infrastructural barriers.
It was a privilege to
explore how information campaigns can effect change and improve public health
outcomes, and at the same time, learn and appreciate the efforts that have and
continue to be made to eliminate TB globally. Working alongside the NCCID team
was inspiring, and I am deeply grateful for their commitment to advancing
public health initiatives that stretch beyond the scope of TB management. I
would like to personally thank my supervisor and mentor, Claudyne Chevrier
(pictured on the right), as well as my other supporting supervisor, Margaret
Haworth-Brockman (not pictured) for allowing me to contribute to TB knowledge translation
and TB information campaign knowledge mobilization.
