As parts of efforts at increasing public awareness on Ebola, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has set up its ‘Information Center on Communicable Diseases’. The center packages reliable and regular information on Ebola in ‘news-worthy’ formats for the media, especially local-based radio stations. This information is used by the media to educate their audience on Ebola.
The Information Center on Communicable Diseases forms part of MFWA’s Ebola and Media project, aimed at strengthening public education on Ebola and improving information flow through local radio stations – the most effective way of disseminating information in Ghana.
Under the same project, eight local-based radio stations have also received Digital Recorders. The recorders will enable these stations, which lack basic broadcast facilities, to do more relevant and effective reporting on Ebola. The recorders were given with funding support from the Accra-based station Starr FM.
The beneficiary radio stations are: Radio FREED in Upper West Region, Quality FM in Upper East Region, Yagbon FM and Radio Gaakii in Northern Region, AHENFO Radio in Brong Ahafo Region, Asempa FM in Ashanti Region, Beyond FM in Volta Region and Radio Rainbow in Western Region.
“Earlier, our journalists had to share the only functioning recorder the station had or resort to unorthodox means of recording voices. I sincerely believe that the digital recorder from MFWA will go a long way to enhance our effort to empower and improve the lives of the people in the catchment areas,” Winston Binabiba, Manager at Radio Gaakii in Northern Region stated.
The project has also led to additional activities initiated by partner radio stations. “As part of MFWA’s Ebola and Media project, we have set up Ebola Cinema Campaign Team, educating our communities on dangers of Ebola, preventive measures and symptoms in our local dialect to contribute to Ghana’s Ebola response”, Christopher Owusu Sekyere, Head of Programmes at AHENFO Radio in Brong Ahafo Region said.
“To prevent an Ebola outbreak in Ghana it is crucial that people have access to basic information about symptoms, preventive measures and control of the disease. Our Media and Ebola Project will support a better flow of information in close collaboration with our partners, including the Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organization”, Rikke Sig Hansen, Project Coordinator for the Ebola and Media Project, explained.
Contact Rikke Sig Hansen on 0545 705 454 for further information.
The MFWA calls for maximum support in efforts at ensuring that accurate information on Ebola is easily accessible to all people in Ghana.
