Member profile: Medical Aid Films, media and communications for health and wellbeing

When the films were screened, the women were overwhelmed and delighted, they had never seen content in their own language before, and the fact that this content would help them save lives was breath-taking for them.”

H2H Network’s newest member, Medical Aid Films, creates quality media and communications to support disadvantaged communities and health workers enhance health and wellbeing. The organization grew from the experiences of a Midwife, who, whilst working in Darfur, saw babies dying needlessly, and sought a way to share life-saving health information with health workers and mothers using film as a sustainable resource.

Today, Medical Aid Films reaches millions of people through their quality, engaging, and inclusive content. Hundreds of organizations use their films in education and training; with many thousands of health professionals and trainers using them globally, their YouTube channel has reached close to 200,000 subscribers.

Medical Aid Film’s Chief Executive, Catherine McCarthy, describes their efforts to put audiences at the centre and make content accessible.

We put a strong focus on reaching audiences – even those without access to the internet and without any media at all”.

An example she mentions is an ongoing sexual reproductive health project in rural Zambia, called SCREEN, where the team supplies communities with mini portable projectors to screen the films in community centres and clubs.

With 8 million views in over 177 countries in 2022, Medical Aid Films’ content has a wide reach and influence. One midwife recently contacted them said that often midwives were not respected for their work in her country, but that the films make her feel valuable in her role.

Catherine shares another story from their work with the Nomad Foundation where they created films translated into nomadic women’s languages. When the films were screened for the women, they were overwhelmed. They had never seen content in their own language and the fact that this content would help them save lives, and help others increase their health, was breath-taking for them.

Catherine explains that despite Medical Aid Films’ impact, it faces challenges as a small H2H organization. In December 2022, Medical Aid Film joined the H2H Network.

As a proactive network, the H2H Network thinks about how to connect members in meaningful ways and is geared toward small organizations like ours”, Catherine says.

Being part of the network provides Medical Aid Films with opportunities to build further connections and collaborations, as well as apply for funding that they may not have heard of elsewhere.

To learn more about the work of Medical Aid Films and to watch some of their films - visit their website or follow them on social media.