Context, intervention and impact:

While there have been many message deliveries in addressing Covid-19-related issues, very often this resulted in an infodemic. In this context, with Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access (DBI EA), applying all aspects of communication and verifying media products through social behaviour change communication (SBCC) validators, including in this project with the South Asia Collective, was able to effectively disseminate information about the pandemic to Nepalis from different linguistic minorities.

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, DBI EA produced three high-quality creative audio PSAs in Nepali, and in six local and regional languages: Tamang, Newari, Gurung, Tharu, Bhojpuri and Maithili. The PSAs covered issues including basic information on Covid-19, measures to stay safe, checking rumours vs facts, importance of validating information, trusting valid source of information, etc. Then, DBI EA contacted 250 FM stations in the 77 districts of the country to disseminate the PSAs. Over a period of two and a half months of broadcasting, DBI EA found that the information proved vital to the focused communities.

DBI EA received more than 500 audio responses in the form of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and in Facebook Messenger. The responses were largely from people in remote areas and different ethnic groups whose parental language is not Nepali. These responses show that the PSAs worked well to meet the objectives of the project. For instance, one listener from Karnali Pradesh asked: ‘Does a person infected with coronavirus continue to have fever or will heal or get fever again? Is it ok to take other injections or not?’

A listener from the Sudurpaschim Province asked whether ‘using an alcohol-based sanitiser can kill the coronavirus in the hands so can a little alcohol kill virus in the stomach? Or can alcohol be dangerous?’ which helps counter misinformation.

A listener from Province 5 asked: ‘I heard that there was a shortage of health supplies before the number of infected people reached 100. How can we win the battle with the coronavirus in this way? There should be no shortage of health items at this time. How can we win the battle without weapons?’

A listener from Karnali Province said: ‘We have not received any information about the coronavirus from the local people’s representatives and the ward office. Why is that? Is it only in our ward or elsewhere? I want to know about this?’

Challenges, lessons and future plan:

Designing messages on COVID-19 was not easy at the beginning. Following the World Health Organisation guidelines and the notices issued by the Government was a must at every stage for good script writing. The people recording the messages could not come together in the sound studio due to the pandemic-related restrictions. Despite these challenges, DBI EA was able to produce the PSAs and send them to the respective broadcasting outlets.

In the process, DBI EA learnt how to produce radio content in adverse situations and manage human resources online. In such a situation, IVR and other social media applications like Facebook Messenger also worked. DBI EA learnt that radio stations in remote areas are ready to broadcast vital and urgent health messages as well. They broadcast the radio PSAs without charge.

DBI EA will continue to broadcast these messages in future as well. Reach DBI EA at: Email | Website