The community of Kereng Pangi showed high interest in the education campaign.

It was recognized at the start that a broad education and awareness campaign was necessary to spread awareness not only among the mercury users such as miners, suppliers and processors but also among others of the community who suffered direct exposure to mercury due to their proximity to burning-centres. Therefore, five different booklets were designed to convey specific information to specific target groups. In all, 3,000 booklets containing technical and health messages were printed and distributed.

A miner studies a booklet on how to capture and recycle mercury.

Additionally, a wide range of media intended to raise general awareness about the dangers of mercury was designed. Two separate designs were developed, one as a hazard warning and another explaining the threat of mercury fumes in a cartoon depiction suitable for children and adults. Two campaign logos were also created.

This logo encourages miners to use mercury wisely.

This sticker depicts intoxication by inhalation of mercury fumes.

Using these designs, two hundred posters, two thousand flyers and five hundred stickers were printed and distributed. In addition, six field banners were printed, and two large billboards were erected in highly visible locations to serve as a constant reminder to the community over the upcoming year.

A trainer stands beneath a billboard displayed on the main highway in the town.

The campaign also aimed to maximise regional exposure to these messages through radio and newspapers, as well as by production of a bi-monthy newsletter. Four editions of the newsletter, covering technical and social aspects of the program, were widely distributed through the province, as well as through national and international electronic networks.

A campaign poster adorns the wall of a food stall in a mining camp.

A rig boss considers the contents of the posters.

Posters and billboards were displayed in prominent locations, such as roadsides eateries, schools, health clinics and government buildings as well as in formal and informal gold shops. In addition, a regular series of radio spots and programs were broadcast by a local radio station to bring the message to all listeners living within a 50km radius of the town.

Hundreds of people gathered to witness the launch event.

Members of the public breath-tested their mercury levels at the launch.

The radio station also broadcast live coverage of the public launch event that commenced the awareness campaign. This event was attended by 500 community members and booklets on family health were distributed to hundreds of women in the audience. These were also provided during the monthly district health check ups for nursing mothers.

Women were especially keen to explore the contents of the booklets.

The local health centre took the initiative to produce its own brochure which synthesized all the information into a simple handout. Approximately 1,000 of these were distributed to the local community through this health centre.

A series of lectures, films and peer-to-peer presentations on the hazards of mercury as well as on the threat of AIDS were made to each of the three schools in the town. Booklets on both these issues were handed out to 600 teenage students to share with their families. Information was also provided to 200 elementary school students.

Students from a nearby national plus school made presentations to local students.

AIDS brochures were distributed to teenage students specifically.

In January 2007, these students produced poster displays on the mercury issue, guided by presentations from other students from a nearby national plus school. Art materials were provided to participants and prizes were awarded to winners.

Thus, the campaign sought to address a wide cross-section of the community. The range of audiences consisted of : a primary target group of miners, their families, gold shops and rig owners; a secondary target group of schools, clinics and community health groups; and a tertiary target group including the general public, local government representatives, public servants, NGO’s and politicians.

A study of the awareness level of the general mining community was conducted in July 2006 and repeated in January 2007. Random sampling of residents in the goldfields showed that general awareness of mercury as a health hazard had risen from 15% to 91% among women, and from 22% to 93% among men, over this six month period.