Covid-19 is more than a health crisis; it is also an information and socio-economic crisis.
We’ve been working in Afghanistan for over a decade to address health, education, equality and inclusion, and political participation and accountability, as well as developing local broadcasters. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we have been producing public service announcements (PSAs) and radio programmes that increase people’s understanding of coronavirus transmission that are critical to stopping the virus’s spread.
We are working to encourage understanding, inspire communities to take coronavirus seriously, and increase their uptake of preventative measures that will protect themselves and their families. We have also been training local journalists and community health workers to enable them to better respond to the Covid-19 crisis through better communication with communities.
Meanwhile, we have been working with the humanitarian community, sharing audience insights to help aid agencies better understand local needs to deliver a more effective response. Since September 2020, we have been conducting research on a monthly basis, presenting the findings at relevant humanitarian meetings, and publishing a monthly edition of ‘Community Voice.’
Every month we conduct telephone interviews with around 300 men and women living across Afghanistan. We collect their feedback on various issues including the main issues they and their community are facing, their perception of Covid-19 and the vaccine, their health concerns and access to healthcare services, and what media and communication channels they use. The questions are developed with input from humanitarian organisations working across Afghanistan, particularly those who are part of the Risk Communication and Community Engagement working group and have a particular interest in how to communicate effectively with communities about vital health issues.
As well as informing the content of our weekly radio programme, our Community Voice research has been a critical source of information for humanitarian organisations operating in a context where access has been severely constrained, and it has been difficult to assess communities’ needs.
The information has helped them:
- Understand communities’ primary health concerns and their access to healthcare services;
- Understand communities’ perceptions about Covid-19 and the vaccine;
- Identify communities’ information needs with regards to their health and Covid-19; and
- Understand their access to media and trusted sources of information, and therefore how to reach them.