UNESCO is launching a new project “Fighting Ebola by Media,” that will be undertaken throughout Sierra Leone and Liberia. This follows the unanimous adoption of General Assembly resolution 69/1 on 19 September, and the adoption of Security Council resolution 2177 (2014), concerning the Ebola outbreak.
The provision of clear and reliable information is essential for a better understanding of the disease at the community level and a bulwark for more effective prevention.
“Fighting Ebola by Media” seeks to bolster the efforts of the Governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia to prevent the spread of the disease, through the dissemination of information about risk factors, methods of prevention and approaches for safe intervention.
“We must strengthen prevention to stop the spread of the disease – this starts with clear, accessible and reliable information, provided to people in all districts and counties,” said the Director-General, Irina Bokova.
“Stopping Ebola require effective action by individual women and men, at the community level, and this project will help reach and support them.”
“Fighting Ebola by Media” will draw on community radio stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia to promote regular sensitization programmes, working with the Ministries of Health, presented in an interactive manner, in both English and in local languages. Information, Education and Communication materials will be developed (flyers, posters, banners, T-shirts, brochures) and distributed to community centres, youth centres and schools, along with user guides to engage community members in discussions on Ebola prevention and response.
UNESCO will also support the recruitment and training of ‘Ebola Sensitization Leaders’ to help disseminate clear messages about prevention at the community level. Building on existing partnerships with television networks, short TV spots will be created to inform viewers about personal hygiene, Ebola signs and symptoms, methods of prevention and safe approaches to address suspected symptoms. These will draw on the voices of influential stakeholders, elders and health ambassadors, to encourage healthy behaviours and to halt the spread of the disease.
“I believe that this project will contribute significantly to stronger international action, which we are prepared to extend further, including in other countries,” said Irina Bokova.
The project is being led from the UNESCO Office in Abuja, a Multi-sectoral Regional Office for West Africa, including Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo. In taking this forward, the Office will work closely with the relevant UN Country Teams, as well as the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response.
This project builds on community radio stations supported by UNESCO -- for instance, Radio Bintumani, a community station in Sierra Leone.
Steven Manasaray, station manager of Radio Bintumani, summed up the importance of this work: "The station has had a huge effect in helping to bring calm to the community and allaying fears. We are at the forefront of the fight in educating people about how the virus is contracted and the relevant symptoms. People from come nearby villages and tell us how much they appreciate the work we are doing including our broadcasting programmes on Ebola in local languages.”
Through this work, UNESCO will increase public awareness about the risk factors for the transmission, prevention, and response to Ebola infections – essential work to help stop a complex crisis.
