The Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (IWSD), in collaboration with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings, developed a WASH Radio Campaign entitled A Clean Zimbabwe – A Healthy You to raise awareness on the role of sanitation and hygiene in improving health and creating a cleaner environment.
Thirty-minute broadcasts were aired from July to November 2009 on the radio station Power FM. The radio series combined three different radio formats – debates, talk shows and public phone-ins – and discussed topics such as:
- poor solid waste management and the respective responsibilities of individuals, communities and service providers;
- cholera outbreaks and corresponding precautionary measures as well as the role of the government in its control and mitigation;
- alternative sanitation technologies; and
- hygiene practices in general and hand washing in particular.
The programme was well-received by the public. Mrs Noma Neseni, Executive Director of the IWSD and WSSCC's National Coordinator for Zimbabwe, concluded: "Listeners were very interested and have been calling in," mostly from urban areas.
The positive feedback prompted a revival of A Clean Zimbabwe – A Healthy You in 2010. From August to October, Power FM and Spot FM broadcast not only debates, talk shows and prolonged public phone-ins, but also WASH tips of the week. The main focus was on sanitation, particularly on activities around Global Handwashing Day, the National Sanitation Week and the development of a National Strategy on Zero Open Defecation.
Unfortunately, the radio programme could not get local authorities and ministries to participate, but all the more, it gave voice to the voiceless.
