This guide from the World Health Organization (WHO) outlines advocacy activities to build human, financial, and political support, by using the Polio Eradication Initiative (launched in 1988) as a platform for strengthening preventive health services.

From the introduction:

"Since its launch in 1988, the Polio Eradication Initiative has grown into the largest ever health initiative [as of publication date in 1999]. This is largely because of advocacy at the subnational, national and international levels to raise public awareness and participation, political commitment and public and private sector spending...

This practical guide outlines four basic steps that are essential for an effective advocacy initiative - documenting the situation, packaging the message, working with the media and mobilizing others. It contains specific examples and ideas, and leaves it up to the user to pick and choose. Obviously, the advocacy strategy varies from target group to target group and from country to country. What works for politicians in Oslo does not necessarily work with health experts in Delhi. Users of this guide are encouraged to select the parts of this booklet that they find useful, borrow successful ideas from others, adapt these creatively to suit their own environment, be innovative, positive and active."

Contents include:

• Introduction — Advocacy Guide
• Chapter 1 — Documenting the Situation
• Chapter 2 — Packaging the Message
• Chapter 3 — Working with the Media
• Chapter 4 — Mobilizing Others

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Advocacy A Practical Guide [PDF], accessed on January 16 2008.