Govt partners with radio station to disseminate informative, public service messages

Radios installed at shelter homes

ISLAMABAD: With awareness key to keeping the novel coronavirus (Covid—19) pandemic at bay, the government has decided to install radios at the shelter homes (Panahgahs) in the federal capital.

To ensure that advisory messages reach those at these shelters, the government has also partnered with a radio station to disseminate informative, public service messages. This was disclosed by Prime Minister's Focal Person Naseemur Rahman on Sunday while visiting the Panahgah set up in Sector G-9.

"A gift of radio for the inmates of the shelter home marks a big step in promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing the spread of the virus,” he remarked as he urged inmates of the shelter to listen to informative programmes about the virus on the radio at least twice a day.

He added radio is among the time-tested mediums for reaching out to those members of the public who have minimum access to the conventional communication mediums such as television, newspaper or social media. "Since most of the visitors of the shelter homes lack basic information on health, it is imperative to acquaint them with the principles of personal hygiene so that the spread of the virus can be stopped at these facilities," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2020.