UNICEF Nigeria Helps Local Radio Producers Raise Bird Flu Awareness

According to this article, local radio programming can play a key role in raising awareness about avian influenza in Nigeria. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications and the BBC World Service Trust to help Nigerian radio producers report on avian flu through motivational and interactive programming.

UNICEF is conducting workshops to highlight the important role of the media in providing accurate, consistent and timely information about avian flu. The workshops intend to strengthen producers’ skills in making interactive programmes that engage and involve community members to speak about their knowledge and perspectives on bird flu. “People have lots of questions and ideas on how to control bird flu in Nigeria,” explains Jenewari Utomi, producer and desk officer at Rivers Radio. “Giving them a voice so that they understand and appreciate the risk is showing respect for them,” she adds, “and it is also the key to good radio.”