COVID-19 Radio Info and Mask Training in Northern Malawi
We had started this project in August 2020 to help the people of Malawi cope with
the Corona pandemic. Due to the massive Corona outbreak in early 2021, we have extended
the project, which was originally planned for six months, until March 2021.
The key objectives of this project were:
● To provide fundamental information on Covid 19, the chains of infection and appropriate
protective measures.
The project thus complements the education strategy of the local authorities (often
not trusted) by specifically addressing civil society through radio broadcasts and
by involving the "Traditional Authorities" (Group Village Heads, Village Heads),
and the Church Leaders, who have a high level of acceptance and represent a strong
multiplication factor.
- To provide local tailors with practical instructions on how to make masks.
Making masks is difficult for the local people as only tailors have sewing machines.
However, the material for the masks is inexpensive, as the existing traditional cotton
fabrics can be used. So it is quite common to hire tailors to make masks from their
own fabrics: a side effect is a strengthening of the local master craftsmen.
Our local partner was the Pamoza project team with Maggie Mkandawire and Radio Dinosaur
FM 91.0 - Karonga Community Radio Station in Karonga, Malawi (https://web.facebook.com/radiodino),
a private community and cultural radio station with which we have already co-operated
successfully in previous projects. Radio Dinosaur broadcasts in northern Malawi in
the local languages Tumbuka and Ngonde, which are not served by the state radio.
Therefore, Radio Dinosaur is the only medium that actually reaches all parts of the
population in northern Malawi, especially in the districts of Karonga and Chitipa
with over 600,000 inhabitants, and is the only source of information for most residents.
From end of August 2020 until March 2021, weekly radio programmes with daily repeats
have been broadcast on both Radio Dinosaur FM 91.0 and Radio Tuntufy, produced, presented
and hosted by our project staff Bridget Mwale and Gome Mhango. The response to these
broadcasts has been excellent, which is particularly evident from requests on social
media.
