(task) allAfrica.com: Liberia: Radio Plays 93 Percent in Fight Against Ebola - MOH & Unicef Study Reveals

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Communication, radio, social mobilization

> http://allafrica.com/stories/201505060574.html <http://allafrica.com/stories/201505060574.html>
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> Liberia: Radio Plays 93 Percent in Fight Against Ebola - MOH & Unicef Study Reveals
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> By Reuben Sei Waylaun
> A study conducted by the Social Mobilization and Behavior Change Communication at the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF has shown that radio played significant roles in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus in the country.
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> The head of the Social Mobilization and Behavior Change Communication, Rev. John Sumo said radio played a critical role in the awareness figuring to 93% out of the study conducted on 1100 households in the five worst hit counties in December 2014.
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> He said, "during the study, 93% of the respondents said they first learnt about Ebola from the radio. They acknowledged that radio messages were complimented in collaboration with information from their closest neighbors and the print media,"
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> "The study showed that more works need to be done to help survivors. 91% of the people said they would accept survivors, but feared that they would contract the disease by touching them."
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> According to the report, the study was conducted on 1100 households in the five most affected counties. Rev. Sumo said the idea of the report was to understand the habits, attitudes and practices and find out what can be done to mitigate some of the problems.
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> Rev. Sumo said, "As one of the key pillars of the EVD response, it was important that we understand where we needed to work well and for the response team to help address the concern of the communities and individuals across the worst hit counties."
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> Quoting the findings in the report, he said the contacts taught that the low rate of the virus was to avoid physical contact and exposure to bush meat.
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> He however revealed that 98% of the participants have changed one behavior, notably, the hand washing, while 95% agreed that the isolation of symptomatic patients and quarantining of affected communities of Ebola was the way forward.
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> Speaking further, Rev Sumo said misconceptions were discovered during the study. "33% of the respondents said Ebola could be spread by mosquito bites. 26% said Ebola could be prevented by bathing with salt and hot water."
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> Speaking on the critical nature of the report, Rev Sumo commended the Liberia Institute of Statistics and geo-Information Services (LISGIS) and UNICEF for the successful conduct of the study.