The awareness-raising initiative led by the Association of Community and Associative Media of Equateur (AMACEQ) in Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo, to combat M-Pox is essential in the fight against this epidemic that has already affected more than 300 people in the province. This mobilization, orchestrated by local actors and journalists, aims to inform and educate communities on the preventive measures to adopt in the face of this disease.
Peter Gbiako, Executive Secretary of AMACEQ, stressed the importance of collective awareness in this fight against M-Pox. Unlike other epidemics such as Ebola or Covid-19 which have benefited from substantial financial support, M-Pox is faced with a lack of resources. This is why awareness-raising and the commitment of local media are of paramount importance in stemming the spread of this disease.
Community radio stations, which are true relays of information within local communities, play a crucial role in disseminating awareness messages. Indeed, the trust placed in the information disseminated by these media contributes to the populations’ adherence to prevention recommendations. When radio stations indicate the simple actions to adopt to protect themselves from M-Pox, such as washing their hands regularly, residents are more inclined to follow these health instructions.
In addition, AMACEQ plans to strengthen its awareness campaign by producing a bilingual magazine (French and Lingala) on the theme of M-Pox, intended to be broadcast through community radio stations. This initiative will make it possible to reach a wider audience and to multiply the communication channels to inform and educate as many people as possible on the good practices to adopt to protect themselves against this disease.
In parallel with this awareness campaign, AMACEQ highlights other societal issues such as environmental governance and the fight against violence against women and girls. These themes, although distinct, are closely linked to the health and well-being of populations, and require continued mobilization to promote responsible and supportive behaviors within society.
In conclusion, the awareness raising against M-Pox carried out by AMACEQ and local media in the DRC is vital in the fight against this epidemic. By actively involving communities through accessible and credible communication channels, this initiative contributes to strengthening the resilience of populations in the face of the health and social challenges they face.