Centre 4 TV Medical Drama

The drama communicates messages about how to lead a healthier life by following the life-and-death challenges experienced by Ugandan characters. Based in a semi-rural health centre, the drama explores issues like HIV/AIDS, malaria, safe childbirth, and childhood immunisation. In the first episode of the 13-part series, the staff of fictional Konaweeka Health Centre are taken by surprise when the new doctor-in-charge turns out to be a woman. A central message of this episode is the importance of preventing malaria during pregnancy by taking anti-malarial drugs and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets. In another episode, the handsome lab technician solves the source of a Cholera outbreak in Konaweeka market, and the health centre staff join with community leaders to halt transmission through a hand-washing campaign. Synopses of all 13 episodes are available by clicking here.

Centre 4 was produced in Uganda with a Ugandan cast and crew working in partnership with a small production team from England. From programme concept to scriptwriting and direction, the project was an apprenticeship for Ugandan talent. The intention was to establish TV drama production expertise in Uganda so that future productions can be carried out independently.

Mediae was contracted by John Hopkins to write, produce and deliver the series. This included running the script writing exercise and proviing key inputs to creating the finailsed scripts. Mediae also employed and managed the principal production team and were contracted to write the scripts, produce the videos including filming and editing, and produce the final video series. The initial design began in May 2001 with a TV Series Design Workshop for representatives of the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) and other health organisations. Message strategies for each episode were based on audience research. The workshop resulted in the message content and background for each of the episodes, and the overall creative concept of basing the series around the staff working in a semi-rural Ugandan health centre.

In September and October 2001, flyers publicising Centre 4 were distributed to major television, video, and stage production houses in Uganda, calling for video production talent to apply for training positions as scriptwriters, directors, sound recordists, camera-persons, editors, and production managers. In October 2001, a 5-day workshop was held to develop profiles of the main characters, settings, and overall storylines for the series, followed by a two-week workshop to develop plot outlines for each of the 13 programmes. The three Ugandan scriptwriters participated throughout, and were teamed up with health content specialists from the MOH and the DISH II project. Writing of the series took place during November and December 2001; these scripts were revised in January and February 2002. Filming began in February 2002 and continued through May 2002, in Jinja.

Health, HIV/AIDS, Immunisation & Vaccines, Youth.

Centre 4 has a potential viewership of 110 million in Uganda and many others in 20 additional African nations.

DISH II was initiated to improve the quality, availability, and utilisation of reproductive, maternal, and child health services, and to enhance public health attitudes, knowledge, and practices in Uganda. The programme was implemented in 12 of the country's 56 districts Kampala, Jinja, Kamuli, Masindi, Nakasongola, Luwero, Masaka, Rakai, Sembambule, Mbarara, Ntungamo and Kasese.