NALA Foundation | Health Literacy & Empowerment for Adult & Families - LEAF Program

The purpose of this manual is to provide low literacy adults with the knowledge and skills on how to improve their own health and that of their families. The sessions included in this manual focus on information and behaviors that are important for preventing neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These diseases are often spread through a lack of personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness, and simple behaviors can help prevent them from spreading.
While medicine is important for treating these diseases, people may become reinfected if they do not make the necessary changes to their daily hygiene practices and environment.
 

LEAF Program: The Health Literacy & Empowerment for Adults & Families (LEAF) program is designed to promote health literacy amongst low-literate adults and improve their ability to make informed choices that improve their own health and their family’s health. It is designed to promote the following elements:

• Health Literacy: Health literacy is the ability of people to 1) access health services and relevant information, 2) understand health information and directives, 3) apply this information correctly, and 4) advocate and act toward improving one’s own health and the health of others. Each of these four goals will be covered in a different lesson.
• Lifelong Learning - Learning itself is a great source of personal empowerment and increases one’s sense of well-being. Adult education can help to equalize this situation and empower people from more disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Accessibility: Program materials use visual tools and discussion so they are accessible to low literacy adults. They do not require strong reading or writing comprehension.
• Ownership: One of the goals of the program is to build the confidence of Individuals to take responsibility for their and their family’s health.
• Community of Health: The program seeks to engage adult learners through dialogue and peer learning. In this way, they can support and motivate each other to improve their health and environmental conditions.