�鶹Լ�� Media Action Feed

Conflict, flooding and now coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia

2020-07-31T10:19:25+00:00

As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increase across Africa, and the World Health Organization warns the pandemic is accelerating, we fear the novel coronavirus is spreading within and from densely populated urban areas on the continent. Rising cases in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu are especially worrying, which is already disrupted by years of conflict, and struggling to support thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs).

Recent flooding has also increased the number of internally displaced people into urban areas, creating the perfect environment for infectious disease such as acute watery diarrhoea and measles. And there are concerns that the virus will further spread, unnoticed, in congested camps.We at �鶹Լ�� Media Action are still working to ensure programmes and training continue to help support the most vulnerable members of society.

We’ve started this by working to ensure the safety of our staff in our Somalia office, especially production teams and contributors, without compromising our programmes’ quality or audience engagement. We provide handwashing stations, sanitizers, gloves and masks at all times, and keeping distance is also observed by everyone in the office. Most of our staff are advised to work from home, observing safety measures including avoiding public transport and visiting crowded places.

In our work, we have adapted in part by conducting remote mentoring with our partner stations throughout Somaliland and Somalia. Our production teams have adopted new formats that allow the incorporation of COVID-19 related themes in their programmes. The teams collect questions from our audiences, which are then answered by health, traditional and religious experts. Drama programmes are now examining how characters change their behaviours in light of COVID-19.

Somalis have adopted a ‘keep distance and hygiene’ slogan, ‘Hay Taban Hays Taban.’ But maintaining distance and sticking to strict hygiene rules is a huge challenge in the warm social culture of the Somali people. The traditional elders advise others to avoid traditional greetings, which include hand-shakes and embracing. They also advise newly appointed Sultans (Traditional leaders) and Agils (traditional chiefs) to avoid sipping milk from one shared pot at traditional ceremonies, as they would normally do, but rather use different containers instead.

Our programmes welcome religious leaders to give an Islamic perspective on COVID-19. They convey very encouraging messages through examples from the Holy Koran, such as how quarantine was practiced when a town was infected by cholera; those in the town remained in lockdown and those outside the town did not enter. They ask their congregations to perform ablutions at home, to pray in the mosque at a distance of 1.5m apart, and to put cloths down to avoid faces touching the carpet.

Religious leaders put more emphasis on COVID-19 in their Friday sermons and advise congregants to adhere to the WHO and Ministry of Health directives. They also dispel misinformation, amid common beliefs that COVID-19 cannot affect Muslims, or that it may be cured by spices, khat or camel milk.

Health experts are providing good preventive messages to our audiences. But we still face challenges, particularly in rural communities where it is not always understood that gloves and masks are meant for one person and one-time use.

These are difficult times for the people of Somalia, who are already suffering not only from flooding and conflict but now an outbreak of locusts. The country’s health systems have been impacted by decades of civil war, without the intensive-care hospital beds needed for a serious COVID-19 outbreak. Amid these many challenges, information can save lives: providing people with the tools to understand how to help protect themselves, and when and how to seek treatment.

Mohammed A. Gaas
Deputy Country Director for �鶹Լ�� Media Action in Somaliland and Somalia

How coronavirus changed media training in Sierra Leone - for good

2020-07-08T13:53:30+00:00

People all over the world are having to adapt their ways of working in the COVID-19 pandemic, and we in Sierra Leone are no exception. But working amid limited internet connectivity and inconsistent power supply makes that adaptation even more challenging.

In a way, we were lucky - as one of the last countries in the world to be hit by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Still, when the first cases emerged and regional travel restrictions came into force, this came as quite an adjustment to our usual ways of working.

We’d been preparing a new training course for our radio partners on communicating in health emergencies. �鶹Լ�� Media Action runs regular Lifeline programming training to help partners to engage with, connect and inform their audiences on health issues, should a crisis arise.

We usually run regular training sessions on communicating in health emergencies face-to-face

Suddenly, we were faced with having to deliver the whole course remotely – during a pandemic - when it mattered more than ever. �鶹Լ�� Media Action has vast experience in Sierra Leone of training local journalists during the Ebola epidemic of 2014-15 – but that was delivered face-to-face. We’d never done anything like this via phone and internet connection – and neither had our partners.

It was daunting to say the least. Data coverage is improving but is far from perfect in Sierra Leone, particularly in more remote and rural areas. And with regular power cuts across the country, keeping mobile phones fully charged can be harder than in other parts of the world, but we all did our best.

As most stations don’t have fixed internet, we provided all participants with mobile phone data instead. Three platforms seemed the most appropriate to deliver the training: Zoom, WhatsApp and regular phone calls. But of course, there were challenges.

Turning on videos at least to say “hi” and see everyone’s faces definitely helped to build a sense of togetherness for the Zoom sessions. Often, we had to switch to audio-only after that, to accommodate the slow connection speed. But the training was still lively, vibrant and collaborative.

When there were serious connection challenges – and there were several! – we made phone calls to complete the training modules. Flexibility and creativity were key to finding solutions for each group – but the general experience gave both us and our participants ideas for the future.

We sent audio exercises, video demos and documents – all via WhatsApp, for participants to watch, listen or read ahead of time of the sessions on Zoom.

"I can’t say that its effectiveness surpasses our usual one-on-one meetings before the epidemic, but I strongly believe it’s a unique alternative for future production meetings and training sessions," said participant Kadiatu Tholley.

Kadiatu joined us from Advocacy Radio in Port Loko, one of the 31 different stations we ran the course with over an intense three-week period. At times it was challenging, but it was very rewarding. We know our partner stations are communicating better during COVID-19 right now, sharing content to protect vulnerable groups, so that audiences can better cope and adapt to protect themselves and their families. The role media plays in health emergencies is vital.

Now we’re drawing on what we’ve learned to help adapt other critical �鶹Լ�� Media Action projects. Our project called ‘EAGER’ (Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient) aims for out-of-school adolescent girls to have significantly improved learning outcomes and have transitioned to education, training or employment. We support 18 partner stations across the country to produce their own local radio shows. With travel restrictions likely to continue for some time, our usual model of travelling between stations will remain on hold. But now we have learnt – and shown the stations – that remote support and co-production is not only possible, it even has benefits.

Even once travel restrictions are lifted, some of these new methods will remain – because we found that remote mentoring works. We certainly won’t stop all travel, but we will reconsider how much time we spend in the field – to develop schedules that are time-effective, cost-effective, and effective in their learning outcomes too.

The beauty of discovering this way of working is that it will allow �鶹Լ�� Media Action to support more stations, more often. And by helping partners create more effective programmes, we’ll be better able to engage and empower audiences on vital development issues – even after the pandemic is over.

Mariatu and Victor are Journalism mentors for �鶹Լ�� Media Action in Sierra Leone
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‘EAGER’ (Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient) is funded by UK AID from the UK Government – learn more here

�鶹Լ�� Media Action delivers Lifeline programming in many countries around the world, you can learn more about this here.

Our COVID-19 handbook for media is available here and our guide for media on communicating in health emergencies is available in 13 languages here.

COVID-19: We're in the response for the long haul

2020-06-09T08:46:05+00:00

As for billions of people around the world, the past few months have been a story of adaptation and change for �鶹Լ�� Media Action.

We have rapidly changed how we work in ways we’d never imagined – from writing, producing and packaging an Indonesian drama series entirely from home, to setting up mobile surveys in Zambia to understand how concerns about the pandemic differ among rural and urban communities.

Our dedicated teams around the world are engaged in the rapid response to COVID-19 – providing lifesaving information to vulnerable communities and supporting local and national media partners to do the same. This has involved helping audiences understand the steps they can take to prevent transmission and minimise their exposure. It also means ensuring audiences know how to access other health and emergency services in the pandemic – including for diseases like malaria, and following heavy rains and flooding from Cyclone Amphan in Bangladesh.

We’re doing this safely by innovating new distance research methods, ensuring our production teams take clear health and safety precautions, training our partners remotely, and virtually sharing practical COVID-19 resources for media and communication professionals.

It is clear that COVID-19 is not going away any time soon. And neither are we.

Beyond providing lifesaving information in the immediate response, we know from over 20 years’ experience that media plays a vital role in connecting people in a crisis and helping audiences cope in the longer term.

Media can support audiences’ psychosocial well-being and help them feel more hopeful by connecting them with others who share their questions, feelings and worries and by providing them with a platform for constructive discussion.

We’re also working to address the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 – from our women’s empowerment project in Afghanistan tackling increased levels of gender-based violence, to a radio show in South Sudan encouraging home learning so children out of school due to lockdown don’t lose out on an education.

This pandemic has shown even more starkly the critical importance of public interest media – to inform, connect, engage and empower people. At a time when trusted information and platforms are needed more than ever, COVID-19 risks being an ‘extinction event’ for many independent media as their revenue streams collapse. We’re proud to have recently proposed a solution in partnership with Luminate: an International Fund for Public Interest Media.

I am immensely proud of our staff for their tireless dedication and hard work in the face of such unprecedented and extraordinary times.

Caroline Nursey OBE is Chief Executive Officer of �鶹Լ�� Media Action.

To learn more about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

Broadcasting from the basement: supporting Afghan audiences during COVID-19

2020-05-19T12:26:02+00:00

Accurate and trusted information is critical to coping with the COVID-19 pandemic – especially when communities are already facing insecurity, as in Afghanistan. Find out how our flagship national TV discussion programme, Open Jirga, has adapted to life under lockdown to continue supporting audiences across the country to cope.

“How can families deal with the mental health effects related to quarantine?”

“We live in a Taliban controlled area, how can we access coronavirus testing services?”

“How can we hold a funeral for a loved one who has died from the virus?”

These are just some of the questions raised over the past few weeks during special COVID-19 broadcasts of our longstanding discussion show, Open Jirga.

Meaning ‘Open Assembly’ in Dari and Pashto – the main languages in Afghanistan – the show reaches over 6 million people across the country and is renowned for bringing citizens face-to-face with their leaders for inclusive and constructive debate. In previous episodes, audiences have raised important issues such as peace talks with the Taliban, disability rights and gender equality, including in debates with the current and former presidents.

The show’s success has always rested on its live studio audience, its ‘assembly’ of normal people who ask about issues that matter to them. But under lockdown, this is simply out of the question.

Last month, our production team set about adapting Open Jirga’s format to ensure the safety of our production crew and panellists, without compromising on the show’s ability to engage audiences and support them to hold their leaders to account.

Over two days, our team rapidly transformed the communal area in the basement of our Kabul office into a makeshift TV studio. We replaced the live audience with virtual question-gathering via video link, reduced the number of panellists from four to two, and followed safe distancing measures on set.

The first COVID-19 special, aired on 13 April, focussed on living with lockdown. Many people in rural areas aren’t observing the rules, in part due to conflicting messaging about physical distancing from health officials and religious leaders. So Open Jirga welcomed a top Islamic scholar and a senior health official to gather around an aftaba lagan, a traditional Afghan handwashing pot, to address people’s specific concerns and set the record straight with cohesive, trusted information.

Watch a clip from a recent Open Jirga broadcast on COVID-19

Since then we’ve covered practical topics, such as how and when to use facemasks, as well as discussed public access to health services for communities living in conflict zones or areas controlled by the Taliban. And, crucially, we’ve busted some of the new myths and rumours about COVID-19 emerging every day – for instance that drinking black tea, shaving your head or wearing henna can ‘cure’ the virus. We’ve also aimed to dispel the widely-held belief that the virus is mostly killing non-Muslims, which has led to complacency within some communities.

At �鶹Լ�� Media Action we also know from experience that media can help audiences feel more hopeful as they connect with others and hear them echo their questions, feelings and worries.

This is so important as there is also much fear and mistrust of health systems here in Afghanistan, and stigma towards people who have, or might have, COVID-19. As one virtual questioner puts it:

“People in our area do not want to opt for medical support fearing that if people learn they have COVID-19 they may be discriminated against or stigmatised by others as ‘coronavirus-affected people’.”

Enabling people to share and discuss their worries helps to break down this stigma and foster understanding, and by welcoming trusted figures on our basement broadcasts, we’re opening up important issues in a positive way – rather than leaving them to sow further division in society.

It’s strange not having our audience members with us in person, but there’s no doubt that they – and our millions of viewers across the country – are with us from a distance, in our new ‘virtual assembly’.

And while we hope for some form of normality to resume soon, even under lockdown the show must go on.

Shoaib Sharifi is Country Director for �鶹Լ�� Media Action Afghanistan.

Open Jirga is broadcast on �鶹Լ�� World Service Dari and Pashto Radio, as well as the state broadcaster Radio Television Afghanistan. It is also aired on Salam Watandar, a network of 101 FM stations across the country.

This work is currently funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Malaria programme tackles COVID-19 in Sierra Leone - how vital information saves lives

2020-04-24T17:51:08+00:00

People have been - understandably – very frightened by the threat of the new coronavirus COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. The country’s experience with Ebola in 2014-15 still feels very recent and its healthcare system is fragile; when the first cases of COVID-19 were announced, mis-trust and mis-information were rife, and our audiences were hungry for calm, accurate information they could trust.

Our popular Krio-language radio show, Tawa Fo Welbodi - which means ‘determined for health’— broadcasts weekly on partner radio stations around the country and is uniquely placed to help in this crisis.

Madiama is a listener of Tawa Fo Welbodi. Photo: Comic Relief

In special editions of these shows, we have focused on the novel coronavirus and provided audiences with information about what it is, how it is spread, how to protect yourself, what symptoms are, and what to do if you or someone you know develop those symptoms.

Our challenge now is to meet audiences’ needs for information about the novel coronavirus, while continuing our important focus on malaria prevention - debunking myths and increasing awareness about malaria. Half the world is still at risk from this deadly disease, which is both preventable and treatable. There were more than 200 million new cases of the disease in 2018, and a child still dies of malaria every two minutes.

Adapt, adjust and continue

As the COVID-19 pandemic dominates headlines and thoughts, we are rapidly adapting to this new context. Our radio programmes continue to emphasise the importance of early testing and early treatment for malaria, and we are providing clear, detailed information about the symptoms of malaria versus the symptoms of COVID-19. We’re also providing guidance about when to report to hospital for malaria testing, and when to self-isolate and call the emergency line.

We also know, from our research and our experience during and after the Ebola crisis, that people tend to fear and stay away from hospitals at times such as this, and may turn instead to traditional medicine. Our programmes inform audiences about measures in place at malaria treatment centres to ensure patients’ safety and protection, and remind audiences about the dangers of relying on traditional medicines instead of modern treatments for malaria. We also give updates on planned national programmes, like the next distribution of insecticide treated nets.

Our Facebook page is the most-liked page in Sierra Leone with over 500,000 followers; we are using this to post regular content from �鶹Լ�� Media Action's global response to COVID-19, including this animation about physical distancing and this interview on misinformation and how to identify it. We are also sharing infographics on symptoms and creating our own animations for our audiences about prevention methods.

Watch this video, produced by Comic Relief and GSK, about our Tawa Fo Welbodi project (filmed autumn 2019)

And we are sharing real stories, like this family who are taking malaria prevention more seriously than ever, to continue to emphasise the importance of protecting ourselves against malaria, especially while the country is experiencing another public health emergency.

"While you are protecting yourself from COVID-19 you should also protect yourself from malaria… it kills fast" says Vandi Magona demonstrating the steps he takes to protect his family from malaria.

Dispelling fear and mistrust

We work hard to feature local voices, such as medical experts, local leaders or well-known entertainers, that people recognise and trust to help dispel fear. For this World Malaria Day, we will share a short video on our Facebook page from popular comedian Kindo Amani, who reminds audiences that it’s still important to work to prevent malaria and to seek early treatment.

And we continue to remind our audiences who is most at risk from malaria. Antenatal visits - where pregnant women receive intermittent preventative treatment - are as important as ever, as are vaccinations for children. We inform our audiences about the continued importance of these and how people can safely access them now.

These are unprecedented times, but we will continue to produce radio and social media content that people will engage with and most importantly trust about COVID-19 and about malaria – to ensure people know how to best protect themselves and their families.

Mary Morgan is Head of Production for �鶹Լ�� Media Action, Sierra Leone

Learn more about our global response to COVID-19 here
Tawa Fo Welbodi is supported by Comic Relief and GSK, you can find out more about the project here.

Our top 10 tips for media in the COVID-19 ‘info-demic’

2020-03-05T12:03:34+00:00

Reporting in a crisis often means covering death tolls, human suffering and instances of government failure. But just as important is providing accurate, trusted information that people need to cope and survive.

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the WHO’s Director-General has referred to an ‘info-demic’ accompanying the virus. Rumours and mis- and dis-information, including false cures and how the disease is spread, can be as harmful as the virus itself.

�鶹Լ�� Media Action is working with partners – including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organization, Internews, Translators Without Borders and others - to counter these harmful rumours while helping to ensure reporting is for people affected, not just about them.

Students wash their hands before entering the Cinta Bangsa kindergarten as Indonesia reports two cases of COVID-19 on March 4, 2020 in Yogyakarta. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

Here are our top tips for media reporting on disease outbreaks and public health emergencies to help make sure audiences are informed, connected to the services they need, and inspired to cope.

Be prepared. Build contacts with emergency responders, health organisations and experts ahead of time. Discuss what the public might need beyond breaking news.
Do your research. Learn the basics about prevention, transmission and treatment and consult with experts to ensure informed reporting.
Coordinate. In a public health emergency, media and health responders need to work together to provide timely, clear and consistent information.
Help your audience stay healthy. Provide accurate information about what is happening, and explain the emergency response measures underway, including how and when to access help, how to prevent the spread of disease and what to do if they or family members have symptoms.
Feature trusted voices, and counter mis- and dis-information. People only act on information and guidance if they trust it, and that is partly based on who the information comes from. Who will your audience trust? And are they reliable sources of information?
Ask the right people the right questions. Select people with the right knowledge, credibility and ability to express themselves on the subject. This might not always be an expert.
Motivate your audiences to cope. Showcase positive stories of coping and recovery and share experiences and learning from others affected. And think creatively: short public-service announcements, longer documentary-style segments, even catchy songs can reach people with life-saving information.
Interact with your audience. But remember to keep yourself and your audiences safe – during a disease outbreak, call-ins or on-line discussions may be safer than in-person interactions. And don’t forget about the voices of the most vulnerable people, who might be harder to reach.
Do no harm. It’s not enough to just make sure your information is accurate. Consider how your reporting might be interpreted and whether it might be feeding stigma or discrimination – for instance by appearing to link a particular group with the spread of a health problem. And be empathetic and sensitive. The needs of someone affected by a disease outbreak are always more important than the needs of the interviewer.
Think of the bigger picture. Disease outbreaks and health emergencies affect more than people’s health. Their livelihoods, education, daily routines, access to food and routine healthcare are all likely to be affected by the outbreak.

Above all, communicate well. This may seem obvious! But to ensure programmes are as accessible and helpful as possible, they need to be clear and accurate, realistic, engaging and solution-oriented. Trusted, consistent, practical programming saves lives.

To read more about reporting in public health emergencies, please use the �鶹Լ�� Media Action’s guide here.

Live drama tackles community attitudes to polio vaccination in Nigeria

2019-10-23T17:00:00+00:00

On World Polio Day, we’re looking through the lens of Nasiru Mu’azu Isa, one of our Producers in Nigeria. Part of our team for over a decade, Nasiru has been instrumental in the production of Madubi Live, a live adaptation of our radio drama that visits communities to record in front of an audience and encourage live discussions about child immunisation, especially the polio vaccination.

When I grew up in Northern Nigeria vaccinations were common – so I was vaccinated as a child. But in the early 2000s, rumours that the polio vaccination was harmful began to spread and many people stopped vaccinating their children. Adding to this, technology has increased the speed at which this kind of fake news is spread, and this is contributing to continuing lower levels of immunisation in Northern Nigeria.

There are several other health challenges in Northern Nigeria, such as long distances to get to health centres for the remotest communities, and cultural and religious beliefs that can prevent families from getting their children vaccinated. And in some areas, conflict may stop health workers from reaching communities or people from getting to health centres.

In 2014, we began working with UNICEF on a multi-media approach to address the socio-cultural norms and beliefs posing barriers to behaviour change amongst caregivers. The work aimed to help people make informed decisions about fully vaccinating their children, particularly against polio, in high risk areas.

We created a radio drama, Madubi (The Mirror), a 15 minute, Hausa-language radio drama, focused on tackling polio vaccination, routine immunisation and other family health issues. By integrating characters, issues, challenges and storylines that reflect socio-cultural values and belief systems of different communities and ethnic groups across Northern Nigeria – it had audience appeal and became popular. Following the success of Madubi, we decided to bring communities together for Madubi Live events, to watch live recordings of episodes. We have taken Madubi Live events to remote areas where people have limited or no access to radio and we always encourage the audience to take part in discussions based on storylines around polio, vaccinations and childcare. Community leaders join in too, adding legitimacy and helping us sustain our impact, while health experts and UNICEF staff are on hand to answer questions too.

We know Madubi Live is working. Community leaders say they’ve had far greater success in encouraging vaccination through these participatory events. To ensure audiences were more likely to trust what they heard, we made sure to include religious leaders alongside our actors and health experts. In these communities it is uncommon for men and women to attend events together, so while in some areas we had women-only audiences to make sure women could join in, Madubi Live also provides an unique opportunity for communal discussion. In two of the areas Madubi Live visited, health officials attribute big increases in the uptake of vaccinations to the transformative power of the live event. Seen as prestigious, the events are a source of great pride by communities and our partner UNICEF, told us that hospital visits spike after our live productions. When I walk around communities in my spare time and hear people talk about our productions, it feels great. It confirms that our method is working, and people are changing their lives for the better.

My favourite part of the production process? Visually seeing the stories you have spent weeks, sometimes months creating, brought to life. You may laugh while writing parts of the script, but the anecdotes really hit home when you see the actors perform. Stage work is unique and this is what makes Madubi Live very special: the audience gives you an instant response, and there is no room for second takes. It keeps you grounded and ensures your work is uniquely tailored and adapted to fit your audience. It epitomises why I love drama. My dad never understood why I studied theatre and drama, but seeing my work with �鶹Լ�� Media Action changed his mind. He is proud of my work and of our impact.

At the time of writing, there have been no reported cases of wild polio virus for three years in Nigeria, but our support cannot end here. Some communities in southern Nigeria, including in Lagos, are rejecting vaccinations. Particularly in the busy urban environment of Lagos, where security is an issue, people are reluctant to trust others and are sceptical of strangers entering their communities, especially if they look like they represent government. Residents are more focused on immediate issues like lack of electricity than they are on immunisation. And the increase in anti-vaccination sentiments on social media risk reinforcing old rumours and fake news about vaccination campaigns in Northern Nigeria – so our work doesn’t stop here.

We will continue to develop Madubi Live because we know it plays a key role in sustaining the long-term change in social norms and behaviours needed to protect Nigerian children against childhood illnesses, including polio, through vaccination.

Nasiru Mu’azu Isa is a Producer for �鶹Լ�� Media Action in Nigeria

Learn more about MERCI (Media Engagement for Supporting Demand Creation for Childhood Immunisation) our project funded by UNICEF here.

‘Why I’m helping protect pregnant women from malaria in Sierra Leone’

2018-04-24T15:50:11+00:00

As the world marks World Malaria Day, hear from Eastina Massaquoi, the presenter of our new radio programme Tawa Fo Welbodi (which means 'Determined for Health') in Sierra Leone. Eastina helped stop Ebola and now she’s applying what we learned during the 2014-2016 crisis to help tackle malaria – which causes 40% of deaths outside of hospitals across the country.

In January 2010, three days before my 21st birthday I was admitted to Konibanks Hospital in Freetown. My (now late) mother had called my boyfriend late at night asking him to rush me to the nearest hospital because I was restless, weak, and couldn’t hold anything in my stomach.

I was diagnosed with severe malaria.

Before being hospitalised I have to admit I was clueless about how dangerous malaria is and how lightly we take it in Sierra Leone. It was a wake-up call and made me recognise how important awareness of the dangers of malaria is. After being unable to celebrate my 21st birthday, I made a commitment to myself to always go to the hospital for a malaria test and to receive proper treatment.

I realised that I could have died at 21.

My boyfriend later became my husband and when I fell pregnant with our first child taking the advised measures to prevent malaria became even more important. Sleeping under a treated bed net, cleaning to prevent malaria breeding grounds and taking three doses of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), an anti-malarial for pregnant women became second nature. And by taking these precautions I’ve now given birth to two healthy, malaria-free babies.

But I am just one of thousands of women who get pregnant every day in Sierra Leone. Many women are either unware of how to protect themselves – like I used to be – or simply don’t know that free malaria prevention services are (or should be) available at government health facilities.

If their symptoms are not perceived as life-threatening people often resort to ‘first aid’ like treating a fever or diarrhoea with oral rehydration solutions or paracetamol rather than treating the real cause: malaria.

On top of that, there are many common myths and misconceptions about the disease in Sierra Leone. Often people believe malaria is caused by cold or changeable weather, or you can catch it by eating fruits like pineapple, or that people with fair skin are more prone to getting the disease. The list goes on.

The dangers of misinformation

I’m both a mother and a journalist. When Ebola broke out in Sierra Leone we saw how myth and rumour caused the disease to spread. To help people understand what was happening we knew people needed to hear from trusted voices, like local leaders or medical experts, in their own language. My job was to train journalists from our partner radio stations to broadcast accurate health information.

We’re now applying the same principles to dispel common myths and misconceptions about malaria with a new weekly radio show I present called called Tawa Fo Welbodi (which means 'Determined for Health').

The show aims to stop people thinking of malaria as ‘normal’ and actively encourage mothers and fathers to become determined to end malaria in their homes and communities. And we’re determined to reach and engage pregnant women – who are particularly at risk - with every episode.

Our research tells us people regularly consult their social network when taking health decisions; women tend to consult a trusted older woman, their partner or a friend, whilst men tend to consult friends or traditional healers. So we need to reach these influential people too.

We know media has great power to deliver health messages – but beyond that we’ve learnt the importance of dialogue in helping to change attitudes and behavior. So, we’re sharing people’s stories and experiences on radio and social media, and inviting the audience to have their say.

As we join many others around world today in the battle against malaria we are more determined than ever about beating the disease in Sierra Leone.

Eastina Massaquoi is a presenter for �鶹Լ�� Media Action in Sierra Leone
Tawa Fo Welbodi is supported by a Comic Relief and GSK Partnership

For more about our response to the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis:

Kicking Ebola out of Sierra Leone
By bike, by bus and by boat - our Ebola radio show’s incredible bi-weekly journey across Sierra Leone

A novel approach to maternal health in Nigeria

2017-12-05T16:26:31+00:00

Earlier this year, after a day of training producers at one of our partner radio stations in Gombe state, I was eating dinner in a nearby restaurant. In the background, a radio was playing, and, as I sat there, I realised that all the women – and some men as well – were listening intently to a novel being read aloud on air.

I knew listening to romance novels on the radio – especially those written by local authors - has been growing in popularity with women and girls in Northern Nigeria. They often go to the market to buy copies of their favourites to read again at home with family.

Gombe has one of the highest rates of maternal and neo-natal mortality in Nigeria. And I’d been working with the radio producers to help increase knowledge around maternal and child health as part of our Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded project in partnership with Society for Family Health.

So I wondered – could a romance novel with a twist help save lives?

Local authors, local story

We brought together seven authors based in Gombe to collaborate on a romance novel that would captivate the audience – both on the radio and in print. The task was to craft a compelling story, but one that would encourage practices such as attending antenatal checkups, or could change perceptions about cultural practices that contribute to mother and child deaths.

�鶹Լ�� Media Action gave editorial guidance and a local mid-wife provided medical expertise, whilst the authors poured in their creativity. It was an exciting combination.

Azizah Idris, one of the writers said "It inspired a new wave of thought on how to shape my storyline without losing the romance. I never thought about educating the reader on a specific issue – such as attending antenatal care and giving birth in a health facility in the presence of a skilled birth attendant."

Another writer, Yakubu Modibbo, said "I never knew we men have a strong role to play in helping overcome some behaviours that contribute to maternal and neonatal deaths in our society."

Amina’s story

The finished novel, Ranar Bakin Ciki (A Day of Sadness) tells the story of a young woman named Amina. Amina’s life isn’t easy. Growing up, her stepmother stops her going to school and becoming a nurse.

When Amina meets and marries Kabiru, the love of her life, the future looks brighter. But she clashes with her mother-in-law, who decides that pregnant Amina shouldn’t attend antenatal visits and insists she give birth at home instead of at a health facility. This almost costs
Amina her life, until the local village head intervenes.

Amina eventually gets the medical attention she needs and gives birth to a healthy baby boy named Muhammadu. And her relationship with her mother-in-law improves.

Amina’s story mirrors reality for many women in Northeast Nigeria, except that some aren’t always as lucky in the end.

Out loud

We sent the book to radio stations in Gombe and across states in Northern Nigeria for presenters to read on air. And we’ve recieved feedback from radio stations in 5 states so far.

A listener Shugaba Zala Mailemu, told Musa Jafaru, the presenter at Yobe Radio in Damaturu, "Ranar Bakin Ciki captures the problem our women face. I can’t stop thinking about it." Another listener, Fatima Mohammed said "the book educates us".

At Fombina FM in Yola, Adamawa state, presenter Jamila Adamu gave copies of the novel to listeners who called in and shared how the story touched their lives. People phoning in said they’d learned about the importance of attending antenatal checkups and that mothers-in-laws should treat their daughter-in-laws better.

At Taraba Radio in Jalingo, Taraba state, and other stations too, listeners are calling in asking where they can get their own copies for re-reading at home.

I’m happy that the novel continues to be so well received. It’s an exciting new chapter for us.

Akile Gojo is a Producer Trainer for �鶹Լ�� Media Action.

�鶹Լ�� Media Action is the �鶹Լ��’s international development charity, and is not funded by the �鶹Լ�� licence fee. Instead it depends on the generous support of donors. You can find out more about supporting our work here.

Prevention is better than cure

2017-02-01T09:00:00+00:00

How local and national radio is supporting work to prevent cholera in South Sudan.

“I didn’t know it was cholera until a health professional at my local clinic told me” said Mary Jabe, a mother of three. “When he instructed me to take my children to hospital in Juba for treatment, I started to cry, because their condition was critical, and I didn’t have any money to get there.”

Mary lives with her family in a one-room hut, containing a single bed in Hai Kugi, a settlement on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan. Outside, a dusty chair rests under the shadow of a small tree – and a short distance away, lie fragments of dried faeces, bleached white by the sun. Without a latrine – or a clean water source nearby, the homestead appeared to be an ideal environment for the spread of cholera – an infection causing severe diarrhoea, dehydration, and death if left untreated.

Luckily, a kind-hearted stranger lent Mary the money to travel to Juba where her children were able to receive treatment. Mary remembers rushing into Juba Teaching Hospital and doctors and nurses taking her children away in a flurry of medication and drips. “Thank God, I was able to see my children’s eyes again” she tells me, holding her youngest daughter tightly in her arms.

I’d been visiting Mary to interview her for Our Tukul, a national and local radio programme helping improve the health of mothers and their families. Mary’s story will be familiar to many people in South Sudan, a country which has seen 1,484 cholera cases and 25 deaths since an outbreak in August 2016. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict – forcing many to flee their homes into crowded temporary camps.

Information saves lives

In emergencies like this – information can save lives. Keen to combat cholera, my team produced a number of episodes of our radio programme Our Tukul, to help people identify the condition, treat it – and most importantly, prevent it.

In one of the episodes, a public health official, Doctor Makur Matur provides advice about washing hands with soap, drinking clean water, digging latrines, not defecating in open places, and making sure food is thoroughly warmed up before eating. “Cholera prevention is not just a job for the Ministry of Health” he tells listeners. “It’s everyone’s duty.”

Free treatment centres

The show is also raising awareness of free treatment centres in affected areas – and builds on previous work in South Sudan, training up local radio stations to produce simple, catchy public service announcements aimed at preventing cholera.
Since the New Year, I’m thankful that no new cholera cases have been reported. It has been a team effort, with Our Tukul playing a part in making sure this run of good health continues for as long as possible. As the old saying goes, prevention is much better than cure.

�鶹Լ�� Media Action doesn’t receive any funding from the �鶹Լ��’s licence fee and depends on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Related links

Find out more about our work in South Sudan
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back the �鶹Լ�� Media Action website

'How to' films help refugees eat more healthily

2017-01-25T11:00:00+00:00

Refugees, nutritionists and film-makers created a series of short ‘how to’ films to help Syrians living in tough conditions in Lebanon pull together quick, simple, affordable and healthy meals for their families.

It is winter – and families of Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon are cooking in their tents – huddled around small, fitful fires to escape the cold and rain outside. Sometimes up to three families share a single stove – white and blue gas canisters or wood-fed fires on raised, iron containers – which double up as heaters in the frosty nights.

In this harsh environment, preparing filling, affordable and healthy meals can be hard. Many people rely on food baskets provided by charitable organisations which – vital as they are – only contain non-perishable ingredients such as pasta, chickpeas, lentils, rice and cooking oil, omitting the more balanced elements of a healthy diet, such as fruit and vegetables.

Food for thought

Vegetables are cheap and readily available in Lebanon. To inspire refugees to cook healthier meals, we filmed four recipes that show how simple, tasty, nutritional and affordable dishes can be cooked-up using locally available ingredients.

Rice with mixed vegetables - Syria Lifeline

Most of the meals can be prepared in just a few pots, with limited utensils. They include a rice and vegetable dish that contains vital antioxidants and vitamins to help boost the immune system; and a lentil and mince-meat dish, which will provide a source of protein, folic acid, fibre and iron.

The short films are available to watch at UNHCR registration centres and Relief International community centres in Lebanon and available online.

BuzzFeed style

The films were purposely created ‘BuzzFeed’ style – filmed from above to a soundtrack of upbeat music. “Many people forget that we Syrians aren’t just refugees – we’re people too,” says Marianna Al Tabbaa, a Syrian researcher who worked on the project. “A really surprising finding from pre-film research – was that presentation really mattered. If you see something delicious, you’re more likely to cook and eat it. For many Syrians surviving under harsh conditions, a nice looking meal is really important.”

During feedback, refugees told us the films had inspired them to try new recipes, gave them nutritional information – and ideas for healthier substitutes. “I don’t use olive oil in my cooking. [Now I’ve watched the films], I might consider switching” said a female Syrian refugee, living in northern Beqaa. “It’s healthy. I had no idea this simple recipe is so healthy,” said another.

In a crisis – providing healthy food for your family is a priority. “People are fighting to feed their children” says Marianna. “They are being smart and creative with their cooking.”

That’s why our films are so important. Food aid is vital for Syrian refugees – but so is information on healthy ways to prepare it.

The films are produced as part of the Syrian Lifeline project, a collection of films designed to support Syrian refugees. We are not funded by the �鶹Լ��’s licence fee and depend on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Related links

Watch the Syrian Lifeline films
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the �鶹Լ�� Media Action website

A tribute to Om Prakash Puri

2017-01-13T08:30:00+00:00

Veteran Indian actor, Om Puri, who passed away last week, fronted our HIV and AIDS drama series, Jasoos Vijay – helping make it one of India’s most watched TV shows of its time. Devika Bahl, creative director for the series shares fond memories of an exceptional man.

I first saw Om Puri in his cult film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, while I was still in school. Amidst a formidable Bollywood ensemble cast, Om stood out in this brilliant satirical comedy. Watching him in other movies such as Ardh-Satya, Arohan, Akarosh, City of Joy, East is East, I, like million others, grew up totally mesmerised by his very unlikely ‘hero’ face, pock-marked and creased, yet with a silent strength and intensity.

Years later, I met Om Puri in person in early 2002. Back then �鶹Լ�� Media Action was called �鶹Լ�� World Service Trust. Our HIV and AIDS multimedia awareness initiative included a television drama series, Jasoos Vijay (Detective Vijay) designed to help break the silence around a very taboo medical issue. To further personalise the narrative and to gauge the pulse of the viewers we decided to add a sutradhar (presenter) – someone credible, a confidante who the audience could write into with their views. Om Puri was the first name on the list. A shot in the dark – but worth a try!

Om was frantically busy in those days. Would he really want to present an unknown TV show? But our casting director, Dilip Shankar was not one to give up. Within a few days, Dilip came in beaming, waving Om’s letter – he had said yes! We couldn’t believe our luck.

And before you knew it, Om was on his way to Delhi for his very first shoot. We were all of course, very nervous. We hadn’t budgeted for a star of his stature and we were sure he would expect to be put up at a five star hotel. Much to our surprise Om declared he would be happy to be put up in a guesthouse with a simple supply of “dal tadka, green chillies, onions, and rotis.” But the cynics that we were, seeing would be believing, so when we next met, he greeted us warmly, praised the lodgings we had found him, and with a twinkle in his eyes, said, “You must try the dal-tadka here, it’s very good!”

As months passed and seasons changed, Om became an integral part of the Jasoos Vijay family and his contribution was immense. His compassion for the common person, his sincerity and commitment were so genuine, it struck a chord instantly. Audiences wrote in hundreds, week after week, pouring their hearts out about their deepest, darkest concerns – and seeking solutions from Om. The project team responded to each letter, sending out information booklets and postcards printed with Om’s signature. He clearly enjoyed being part of a project designed to help the Indian public and would say: “I find working with you all very therapeutic and Jasoos Vijay is very good for me”. It was good for its audiences too – research showing that among sexually active men, 58% of Jasoos Vijay viewers said they were aware that unprotected sex could be a route of HIV transmission, compared to only 39% of non-viewers. By the time it finished, the show had reached over 70 million people – and often featured in India’s top 10 shows.

Om Puri and Adil Khandkar in costume for an episode of Jasoos Vijay

One day Om rang to say that he had just returned from a shoot near Siachen (Kashmir border) where he met a soldier who had spent a laborious half an hour in the snow to crank up his oil generator to power his television so he could watch Jasoos Vijay and “his uncle” (Om and the actor who played Vijay resembled each other). The soldier couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw that the ‘uncle’ was right before him. Om said that since viewers craved to know whether he was related to “Jasoos Vijay”, he didn’t want to disappoint. So it was decided to feature Om within the drama itself as Vijay’s uncle. Again, all of this, Om happily did.

A self-made man, Om blazed his own trail. He had very humble beginnings, but did not give up. He mastered his craft and made it to the top, both nationally and internationally. But once there, he never lost sight of his modest beginnings and his struggling days. He remained a man of simple needs, wearing cotton kurtas and a simple watch, a true son of the soil.

His outstanding talent, his quiet professionalism, his charisma, his deep baritone voice, and above all the human being that he was will be much missed.

I feel very lucky to have had him pass through my life, leaving behind wonderfully warm memories of his generous, kind and adventurous spirit.

We don’t receive any funding from the �鶹Լ��’s licence fee and depend on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Kakalliya: The rapping granny

2016-12-02T08:30:00+00:00

Granny-power hits the airwaves to help improve the health of mothers and babies in northern Nigeria.

An old woman is wearing native dress and a hijab, both fairly common in northern Nigeria. Cast your eyes down though and you’ll see a pair of bright red sneakers peeping out from beneath her dress. She opens her mouth, a strong hip hop beat kicks in and she begins to rap in Hausa – the main language of the north.

“When you’re lost, and you don’t know what to do,

Ask me (mothers and children), and I’ll get answers for you.”

This external content is available at its source: https://soundcloud.com/bbcmediaaction/meet-kakalliya

‘Kakalliya’ or Kaka for short, is a cool new character in Ya Take Ne Arewa (What’s happening Up North), a radio show helping improve maternal and child health in northern Nigeria.

Pillar of the family

Kaka (meaning granny in Hausa) represents a mother-in-law who, in most parts of Nigeria, commands respect and is rarely disobeyed. If you’re a fan of Nigerian movies, you’ll have a fair idea of the influence of grannies here. Her take on issues that arise between husband and wife is hardly ever questioned. Following the announcement of a pregnancy or birth, for example, many grannies will move into the family home – bringing with them support and expertise.

A granny who lacks knowledge about healthcare could spell doom for a family. Infant mortality rates in the north of the country are higher than the national average. Many of these deaths can be prevented by regular check-ups at the hospital or local clinic, or by ensuring children are fully vaccinated. As pillars of the family, grannies play a pivotal role in promoting both good and bad health practices.

Granny power

This is why we created Kaka. She has deep knowledge of the old ways of doing things – but she’s moved with the times. She uses her funky attitude and wisdom to improve health – communicating with people through music, drama and short radio spots.

In one radio spot encouraging parents to have their babies in hospital, Kaka sweeps the floor while in discussion with a man from her neigbourhood. The man whose wife is in labour wants Kaka to assist her to deliver the baby at home. She disagrees and wants the baby to be delivered in the local hospital. “Hospital? For what? My wife is a very strong woman o!” says the husband with pride. Kaka literally ‘sweeps’ his argument away saying, “If a hen wants to lay eggs, it finds the most suitable place. If an animal can think as carefully as that, why can’t you?”

Finish what you have started

Kaka appears in cartoons on Ya Take Ne Arewa’s social media channels. It’s another way she interacts with younger audiences across northern Nigeria.

In one cartoon, Kaka urges families to ‘finish what you have started’. Polio – a serious viral infection – still affects children in northern Nigeria. Her wise words refer to the need to give children multiple doses of the polio vaccine in order to be fully protected.

Binta Ola Katsina, a granny herself, is thrilled to play the character of Kaka. “Grannies play an important role in decision-making processes at home,” she says. “I’m optimistic [listeners] will take the health tips I dispense as seriously as the advice they receive from their own grandmothers.”

We hope so too. Through granny power, we want to improve health for mothers and children everywhere.

This article was written as part of the �鶹Լ��’s 100 Women season. Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #100women.

Somalia: one of the toughest places to give birth in the world

2016-11-15T09:38:37+00:00

A tribute to Amran Mahad, lead actress in Maalmo Dhaama Maanta (A Better Life than Today), an interactive drama helping young people to talk about both the opportunities and the obstacles that they face in Somalia. She died 3 November 2016 following complications during childbirth.

Amran Mahad was known to audiences as ‘Ugasso’, a strong, ambitious young woman determined to make the world a better place. The character she played – beloved by Maalmo Dhaama Maanta’s listeners – was similar to Amran herself. A household name in Somalia, her beguiling voice floating through the airwaves, Amran captivated and inspired listeners every week.

It was with great joy that we heard the news that our newly-wedded colleague had given birth to a healthy baby boy via Caesarean section. The joy did not last long.

When I received the devastating news that my friend and colleague had passed away after complications following childbirth, a great wave of sadness washed over me. Amran had been with her baby for just 18 days.

Giving birth shouldn’t be a matter of life and death. Tragically, for many expectant mothers in Somalia, it is.

In Somalia, one woman out of every 12 dies as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. The leading causes of maternal deaths – hemorrhage (bleeding), infection, unsafe abortion, high blood pressure, seizures and obstructed labour – conspire to make Somalia one of the most dangerous places to give birth in the world. Most of these deaths are avoidable if only the right medical help is available.

I was reminded too, of the importance of our own maternal health projects, particularly our former radio drama and discussion show Tiraarka Qoyska (Pillars of the Family) where listeners could obtain expert health advice. We found that powerful and emotional story lines in the drama – in which a character died – motivated pregnant women and mothers to adopt safer health practices. In short, fictional deaths were helping to save real lives.

It’s heartbreaking that Amran’s death is all too real.

Our beautiful and talented actress won the hearts of everyone she met. She’ll be profoundly missed.

Related links

Find out more about our work in Somalia
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the �鶹Լ�� Media Action website

Coming out about indoor pollution in Ethiopia

2016-10-26T14:16:04+00:00

A new radio drama is helping improve people’s health in Ethiopia by drawing attention to the harmful effects of traditional ways of cooking, heating and lighting homes.

“Bring that wood over here and make some fire in the room!” Although the woman can see the smoke has already made her daughter’s eyes “so red, they’re like pepper”, her voice is so commanding that disobeying her is unthinkable.

These are actors taking part in �鶹Լ�� Media Action’s new radio drama and they’re more than convincing.

After barely two months on air, Golaafala (meaning ‘solution from within’ in Ethiopia’s Oromiffa language) is already one of the most popular shows on ORTO (Oromia Radio).

The Golaafala crew – actors, writers and producers

"I love to listen to Golaafala every Wednesday because it’s a real reflection of the villages we live in and it's like hearing your own voice,” says Bezina Getachew, a listener from the eastern town of Harar.

Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and broadcast across Ethiopia’s vast Oromia region, the drama draws attention to the harmful effects of traditional ways of cooking, heating and lighting homes.

Indoor air pollution is a big problem in Ethiopia. The country ranks 163 out of 180 in the International Environmental Performance Index for 2016 for indoor air quality.

Inefficient cooking stoves, the smoke from open fires and kerosene lamps are seen as the main cause of life-threatening respiratory illnesses and the reason for thousands of premature births.

Unconventional approach

“We decided that using storytelling and radio theatre is the best way to address such a serious topic,” explains Dawit Batri, Golaafala’s senior producer. “Spoken word, poetry and music are very popular in Oromia and appeal to the artistic nature of the Oromo people.”

The subtle tactic seems to have worked. Audiences are hooked on the storyline without feeling lectured to or criticised. It is not until episode nine - when one of the characters is taken to hospital with a serious lung problem - that listeners discover what the drama is all about. Until that point the fictional world of the drama had focused on creating a realistic picture of traditional uses of energy that are then shown to be harmful.

The audience feedback has been incredible. “I like Golaafala because it portrays the harmful traditions in our community in an entertaining way," says one of the messages left on our answer machine.

It’s one of the dozens of phone-calls the Golaafala team receive every week. And that’s not counting the calls made to Oromia Radio. The national broadcaster EBC has also started airing the drama on its Oromiffa service.

“The issues the drama raises are very important to us because of their relevance to our daily lives,” a participant in one of �鶹Լ�� Media Action’s focus discussion groups about the show points out. He adds that Golaafala has triggered lively discussions in his village.

Coming out

And now, the Golaafala team have recorded their first public service announcement (PSA) that clearly hammers the message home.

“Why are you crying my baby? Is it because you are too spoiled?” a mother asks.

“She is not spoiled,” the father argues. “The smoke you’re making in the house makes her eyes bleed!”

The radio drama and PSAs don’t just raise awareness of how indoor pollution can damage health, they also aim to provide solutions.

“What can I do to help my daughter?” asks the father in Golaafala’s first PSA.

“Hey, man - stop living in the past!” says the drama’s storyteller – a traditional singer who inhabits Golaafala’s tej (wine) house and comments on the lives and ways of the play’s characters.

“Buy an improved cooking stove and make sure that your family is healthy!”