Medicine is often perceived to be a rigid science. It involves strict policies, complex diagnoses and a robust understanding of the human body. These characteristics make it seem disparate from the relatively free-flowing arts. The arts serve as a vehicle for humans to cultivate a sense of identity through expression of one’s beliefs in a variety of mediums. In contrast, science, though challenging to define, typically entails a systematic study of the natural world through observation and experimentation. The potential intersection between the arts and science is often challenging to envision; however, Uganda’s utilization of the arts in healthcare exemplifies the benefits that result when the two are fused together.
Jill Sonke, director of the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, has researched extensively into the role of the arts in the Ugandan healthcare system. She notes that Ugandan programming relating the arts and health began in the 1960s. Even before this, traditional healing practices within the country often integrated the arts in various forms such as music, painting, and sculptures. Thus, Uganda has a long history of connection between the arts and health, a link that has been observed to lead to improved health outcomes and more effective public health communication.
A recent example of this connection comes from Lilian Mary Nabulime, a Ugandan sculptor and lecturer. She crafted sculptures to assist community members and health policy members better understand schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms that is extremely prevalent in Uganda and surrounding countries. One of these sculptures is pictured above. It is meant to emphasize the social, bodily, and environmental implications of living with the disease. To achieve this intended effect, Nabulime went through a research and refinement process in order to adequately capture insightful and important information regarding schistosomiasis in her sculpture.
Nabulime’s work is one of many examples of arts-based health communication campaigns in Uganda. Many other works target HIV/AIDS education and use a wide variety of mediums including films, music, and storytelling. In a 2017 qualitative interview study, Sonke identified four key themes of Uganda’s arts-based health communication campaigns: “(1) the arts empower health communication; (2) the arts engage people emotionally; (3) effective programs are highly structured; and (4) professionalism is critical to program effectiveness.” Through its ability to transcend social, political, and economic barriers, the arts “humanize, clarify, and empower health communication,” which engages populations at a deeper emotional level. Uganda’s success illustrates the potential arts-based health programs have. It would be best for other countries, such as the United States, to adopt their best practices to establish their own arts-based campaigns in order to more effectively communicate health-related information and deliver healthcare.
Image caption: Lilian Mary Nabulime’s completed sculpture, aimed at spreading awareness and education surrounding schistosomiasis.
Nikhil Sriram is a second-year student, majoring in Neuroscience and Global Health Studies. He joined GlobeMed at the beginning of his freshman year and is currently serving as the co-director of globalHealthU.