Coronavirus

HCR Responses to Covid-19

Countries around the world are struggling with the COVID 19 pandemic. HCR and our partners are continuing to reach out to local communities to respond to this crisis.  Our partners are engaging with individuals, families and communities around COVID 19, ensuring they receive clear and accurate health information and practical support that will save lives and give hope to people in these challenging times.

Finding hope during self-isolation

Stephanie writes about her self-isolation experience and reflects on stories from Sierra Leone, “I started thinking about what could encourage me through this time. I remembered a story from Ebola (1) survivor, Aliu, who I met in Sierra Leone and whose story stayed with me. Even in the darkest of times, facing grief and trauma, Aliu had hope and reached out to others.”

Information is a basic need during challenging times

One of my earliest experiences in community centred media took me to Banda Aceh a number of years after the tragic tsunami in 2004. Five years on and the devastation was clearly still visible. Research by colleagues with disaster response found in that initial critical phase of the disaster, people weren’t necessarily prioritising items that we would associate with primary needs such as food, water, shelter but the most important need was information.

Overcoming fear, fake news and misinformation at a time of crisis

Our partners at Amani FM in Tana River County, eastern Kenya, report that rumours, fake news and misinformation about the Corona virus, are causing fear and panic. They are working hard to ensure that good information is being disseminated, that constructive dialogue is happening and that community fears and concerns are being heard.

Radio MAMA builds resilience in the face of Covid-19

We asked yesterday how the Radio MAMA content on Coronavirus is developing and what community members make of the radio content. Radio MAMA is limiting their information sources to Government and WHO to avoid confusion. As a community-centred project, Radio MAMA recognises that reliable information about the virus is only part of the picture

Localising the international response to Coronavirus

In a health crisis, fear can spread faster than a virus, and with that, the potential for hatred and violence. Clear, actionable and trustworthy communication is essential to combat this. It is also essential for service providers and government officials to listen.