[FoME] Bangladeshi Community Radios Broadcasting 25 Hours Program on COVID-19 Prevention Education

[AHM Bazlur Rahman]

[image: Jhenuk - DC, Jhenaidah (2).jpg]

*Bangladeshi Community Radios Broadcasting 25 Hours Program on COVID-19
Prevention Education  *


Sixteen Community Radios stations in Bangladesh have been broadcasting
Coronavirus prevention education in line with the National Preparedness and
Response Plan for COVID – 19, published by Directorate General of Health
Services, Health Service Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.



Community Radio stations are also taking special care during designing,
developing and broadcasting  prevention education program on COVID -19 by
considering the policy brief of ARTICLE 19 title is Viral Lies:
Misinformation and the Coronavirus.
https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-final.pdf



*Media outlets and journalists should proactively report on disinformation,
propaganda and discrimination by state or non-state actors in the context
of the COVID-19 outbreak. Accurate reporting by reputable journalistic
sources is one of the most powerful tools to *



*Media outlets and journalists should support effective systems of
self-regulation, including both national press complaints bodies and
ombudsmen or public editors at individual news outlets. Such bodies or
officials should help to ensure the right of correction or reply to address
inaccurate or discriminatory reporting in the context of the COVID-19
outbreak. *



*Media outlets and journalists should adhere to the highest ethical
standards, including equality principles, when reporting on COVID-19. They
should report about COVID-19 accurately and without bias, avoiding
stereotyping, and without unnecessarily referring to race or nationality or
ethnic origin.*



Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been
monitoring and observation the situation 24x7 hours centrally and providing
support and advice to the community radios as and when required. One
broadcaster in each radio stations is working as the focal person to
coordinate COVID -19 prevention programs. Sixteen community radio stations
focal are working closely with the local district, upazila and union
Coronavirus Prevention Committees and government offices for reinforcing
information to develop the radio programs.



Presently, Bangladeshi Community Radio stations are broadcasting 25 hours
awareness raising program per day on prevention of pandemic Coronavirus
education for the rural people for  animating CSOs, Government, health
service providers and communities for reinforcing collective action,
keeping community people’s daily life normal and livelihood function &
mobilize further cooperation among government, CSOs, local market and
communities’ response



The formats of the COVID – 19 programs are- news, Public Service
Announcement (PSA), radio spots, radio talks, magazine, drama, jingles,
interviews of local administrations and health officials and expert
opinions etc. And the contents are- What is Corona, how to contaminate,
symptoms of the patients, advice for the patients, precautionary steps for
preventing contamination, what is quarantine, home quarantine, service
providers, and service providing agencies and service delivery points, the
role of community people and hotline service information of government.
Simultaneously, community radios are broadcasting PSA on government orders.



The contents are developing by following the guideline of Institute of
Epidemiology Disease Control And Research (*IEDCR) Government of
Bangladesh,* UNICEF and WHO COVID-19: Strategic Preparedness and Response
Plan. Some radios have distributed leaflets in the educational institutions
and public places.



Key observations are in the community radio broadcasting areas; the panic
among the community people has been reducing gradually and people are
taking precautionary measures to prevent contamination of Coronavirus. The
audiences are making phone calls and sending SMS during the live
broadcasting to share their queries. Besides, the COVID – 19 focal are
communicating with the local Corona Prevention Committees for reinforcing
information and instructions. Thus a good coordination has been established
between government and private organizations, and community radio stations.
This awareness campaign will be continued unto the normal situation is
bring back.



Community Radios Broadcasting 25 Hours Program on COVID-19 Prevention
Education Community Radio stations are Community Radio Padma 99.2 FM
Rajshahi,  Community Radio Nalta 99.2 FM Kaligonj, Satkhira,  Community
radio LokoBetar 99.2 FM Barguna Sadar, Community Radio Pollikontho 99.2 FM
Moulvibazar Sadar,  Community Radio SagorGiri, 99.2 FM Sitakunda,
Chottogram, Community Radio Mahananda 98.8 FM Chapainawabganj Sadar,
Community Radio Mukti 99.2 FM Bogra Sadar,  Community Radio Chilmari 99.2
FM, Chilmary, Kurigram, Community  Radio Jhenuk 99.2 FM *Jhenaidah Sadar**,
* Community Rural Krishi Radio 99.8 FM Amtoly, Barguna,  Community Radio
Naf 99.2 FM Tekhnaf, Cox’s Bazer, Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2 FM
Munshigonj,  Community Radio Meghna 99.0 FM, Charfashion, Bhola, Community
Radio SagorDwip 99.2 FM Hatiya Island, Noakhali,   Community Radio Sarabela
98.8 FM Gaibandha  and Community Radio Boral 99.0FM,



BNNRC has formed a monitoring team consists of 5 members. The team is
monitoring the situation and providing necessary support to Community Radio
stations. Mark Manash Saha acts as the Program Coordinator of the
monitoring cell. For any emergencies and query, please contact with- Cell:
+88 01712144180, email: mark at bnnrc.net.

 ---------------------------------------------



*Bazlu*

____

AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR | Chief Executive Officer |

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

[Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations]


*Policy Research Fellow*, Shaping the Future of Media, Information  &
Entertainment

in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution(4th IR)



House: 9/4 Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207| Bangladesh|

Phone: +88-02-9130750| 9101479 | +88 01711881647

Fax: 88-02-9138501 | ceo at bnnrc.net | bnnrcbd at gmail.com |

http://www.bnnrc.net
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