NCOC seeks rural support networks' help to contain spread of virus

It notes that public awareness is important to overcome critical issues

The National Command and Operation Centre on Thursday directed the Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) spread across the country's villages and districts to enhance community mobilisation to effectively mitigate the spread of the virus.

In a high-level meeting organised on Labour Day, with Minister for Planning Development Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in chair, the committee discussed the existing structure of RSPs in the country.

The centre noted that community mobilisation was important to cope with any crisis in the country and that public awareness was important to overcome critical issues.

The NCOC, through its community strategy, conducted data-mapping within the country. The data found that 67 per cent of the population lived in rural areas, 81 per cent used mobile phones, 78 per cent watched television and 37 per cent listened to the radio.

Through the data gathered, the centre developed four groups, namely individual, family, society and community. A medium for language was also devised for public awareness and education.

The forum had extensively mulled over community mobilisation to ensure that public had smooth and timely access to information till date, and even after May 9.

The RSPs directed to come forward include the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Sarhad Rural Support Programme, National Rural Support Programme, Institute of Rural Management, Balochistan Rural Support Programme, Sindh Graduate Association and Sindh Rural Management.

The network of these RSPs is said to be based on 2,152 local support organisations, a total of 36,897 village organisations and 489,525 community support organisations.

The national outreach of these organisations is over 54 million people, with its network reaching over 149 districts.