Kampala, 15 June, 2020 / 6:20 pm (ACI Africa).
In a bid to tackle COVID-19 crisis in Africa, the leadership of the development and humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has acknowledged the significant role of radio and partnered with broadcasting outlets in Uganda, Sierra Leone and South Sudan to reach out to community members with reliable information about the pandemic.
“Today, radio is still a crucial tool used by local experts across the world to provide life-saving information to people who can’t rely on newspapers, who don’t read, or who can’t trust the information sources otherwise available to them,” CAFOD leadership reported.
In Uganda where various church leaders and organizations are running messages on COVID-19 across Catholic and national radios, CAFOD is sponsoring the broadcasting of “trusted information” on preventing the spread of coronavirus such as staying at home, regular hand washing and avoiding social gatherings.
“The messages also ask listeners not to discriminate against people who have recovered from coronavirus and to pray for the end of the pandemic in hope and solidarity with each other,” the leadership of the UK-based agency reported June 12, referencing their initiative that is inspired by St. Oscar Romero, the El Salvador Archbishop known for having engaged radio as a tool for evangelizing and fighting injustice.
In the West African nation of Sierra Leone, CAFOD’s leadership is building on the work done during the fight against Ebola and has mobilized faith leaders across the country to spread prevention messages.
