A photo novel developed by a Stellenbosch University (SU) lecturer in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Health to improve awareness around diabetes, will soon make its way to healthcare workers and patients in the Cape Winelands, a region where many people are affected by the disease.
Photo novels portray a dramatic story using posed photographs and text bubbles or captions and are usually set in everyday life.
Dr Burt Davis, a senior lecturer at the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management at SU, says his photo novel, Gertie's Big Secret, aims to improve understanding of how to take responsibility for one's diabetes diagnosis, raise awareness around how the healthcare system can support diabetics and increase general knowledge levels related to diabetes. It will also serve as a prevention tool.
The story revolves around Gertie whose life is turned upside down when she finds out she has diabetes. The diagnosis not only has ramifications for her health, but also impacts her confectionery business, her friendships, and her troubled brother.
Davis says the reason why the photo novel will be distributed in the Cape Winelands District is because feedback from healthcare institutions in the area points to a high prevalence of diabetes among people there.
“Especially recently diagnosed patients struggle to accept their diagnosis. Part of the reason relates to myths around diabetes, such as that one cannot live a full, productive life with this disease. Another persistent myth is that diabetes only affects old people. People are also overwhelmed by the suggested lifestyle changes that often accompany a positive diagnosis. This results in many patients defaulting on their medication and/or failing to adopt a healthy lifestyle."
Two versions of Gertie's Big Secret will be made available: one featuring an older protagonist and the other a younger protagonist. This is as a result of recent research which suggests that age similarity of the reader to that of the protagonist can play an important role in how a message is received.
Gertie's Big Secret came about after a previous photo novel by Davis on the tik problem in the Western Cape, Regret Fixes Nothing, came to the attention of Dr Lizette Phillips, director of the Cape Winelands District for the Western Cape Department of Health. The concept resonated with her and she commissioned Davis to develop something similar about diabetes.
Sandra Maritz, Communication Officer of Western Cape Department of Health in the Cape Winelands District, says the photo novel will be used as a tool by healthcare workers to provide counseling to patients in clinics and hospitals in the Winelands District.
“This photo novel is an indirect way of discussing matters that can be difficult for someone to discuss with their family and friends. This support is very important for the management of this condition and one's overall journey with diabetes.
“Dr Davis was able to create characters that people can easily relate to, while incorporating health information and keeping it light-hearted. We are confident that this photo novel will be a great conversation starter about diabetes."
Western Cape Department of Health's Dr Colette Gunst and her medical team were also instrumental to help guide which health information should be included in the booklet, as well as with the development of realistic and believable characters and a storyline. Other key stakeholders included the staff and patients at Cloetesville Community Day Centre (the setting for the stills of the photo novel), Prof Carel Jansen from Groningen University in the Netherlands and the production team (film crew, art director, actors, storyboard artist, graphic designer, and language editors).
Maritz says Gertie's Big Secret will be distributed as soon as “final adjustments to the design and translations" have been finalised.
The photo novel will be made available in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa.
Davis also plans to partner with SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to develop an interactive, digital booklet of Gertie's Big Secret, using existing messaging apps such as WhatsApp. He is also in the process of exploring ideas for photo novels related to other illnesses, such as epilepsy.
- Photos supplied: The cover of the photo novel on diabetes in Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa. Right: Dr Burt Davis, developer and author of the booklet.
