The Ministry of Environment, UNICEF and FM-100 are teaming up under an agreement signed here Tuesday to produce radio programmes to persuade people in the earthquake affected areas to take measures to protect their health, according to a press release issued by the Emergency Hygiene and WES Communication Unit, Ministry of Environment.

“We are trying to reach as many people as possible with information to persuade them to drink only clean water that is increasingly available and to use latrines that are being constructed,” said Mohammad El-Fatih, Chief of WES, UNICEF. “People in the emergency situation need to know how to protect their health and prevent outbreaks of life-threatening diseases.”

The radio programmes will focus on hygiene and water, environment and sanitation (WES) issues like sanitation, use of latrines, hand washing and safe water, and health issues like mother and child health, protection from diarrhoea, ARI, routine and special immunization campaign, as well as other subjects.

Under the agreement, FM 100 will produce and air more than 102 interactive/call-in programs of one-hour duration. The programs will be aired every evening, as well as on Sunday mornings, for a total of eight programs each week, starting December 10 and continuing for three months initially.

“FM-100 has been involved in the relief efforts from day one, and is playing an important role in raising awareness and keeping people informed,” said Kamran Jamil Khawaja, Country Manager of FM-100. “It is our pleasure to join hands with UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment to help with the relief and rehabilitation efforts in whatever way possible.”

FM-100 is being heard in all affected areas except Muzaffarabad. UNICEF and the University of Punjab have already set up an FM radio station in Muzaffarabad, FM-104, dedicated to raising awareness on hygiene, water and sanitation, health and nutrition and child protection. FM-100 will build alliances with FM-104 and other FM stations, including those outside the affected areas, to extend the reach of the programs.

The agreement is part of the MoU signed yesterday between the Ministry of Environment and UNICEF on WES communication activities. UNICEF is also distributing radio sets in the affected area and organizing Radio Listener Groups to enable more people to listen to the radio transmissions and generate discussion to reinforce the information and messages.

Known as “ Rahber ”, the programs are expected to help mobilize tent-to-tent motivators by the same name, another initiative by the Ministry of Environment and UNICEF to promote safe drinking water and good hygiene and sanitation practices.

The Ministry of Environment is leading communication activities related Hygiene and WES and has set up an Emergency Hygiene and WES Communication Unit to serve as a focal point.