The sheer reach of radio in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone made it an essential tool in raising awareness about Ebola. Now, with the Zika virus spreading throughout Latin America, radio is once again proving its worth.
Image: UNESCO
Image: UNESCO

Despite rapid growth in the use of digital and online media services, radio is still the most used and accessible media platform worldwide. In West Africa its high level of penetration and low-cost compared to the Internet and television, has proved instrumental in educating people about Ebola, combatting misinformation and filling potentially fatal communication gaps.

Now with the Zika virus spreading throughout Latin America, PMA partner the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) has joined a UNESCO backed campaign to mobilise Caribbean radio broadcasters to join the fight.

As the most accessed media platform in the Caribbean, radio stations are being asked to host Zika public service announcements (PSA) that UNESCO has collaboratively prepared with the IFRC and WHO.

The announcements consist of three information spots, each available in the four major languages of the region: French, English, Portuguese and Spanish.

According to UNESCO’s press release the spots depict two neighbours discussing Zika and the best way to protect themselves from the mosquitos that carry the virus. It also features a third person “to illustrate the role that each of us can play in the dissemination of prevention messages”.

To our many public broadcasting members in the Caribbean, you can find the PSA campaign information below as well as a link to UNESCO’s co-produced radio spots.

For more information and to download the spots, click here.

For more information you can email CBU at info@caribroadcastunion.org

(Video courtesy of WHO)