Author: Laura Wotton

In the bustling border market at Petite Barriére, Esperance Nyiramahirwe rearranges the fruit in her stall. Beside her is a large bucket of water, which she uses to vigorously scrub her hands between sales. She is not the only one – the smell of chlorinated water permeates the market, smelling sterile as a hospital ward.

“Radio Isano broadcasts information on Ebola all day,” says Esperance. “That is why I started keeping water for handwashing near my stall, so I can keep clean and prevent myself from getting the disease.”

Located on the border with Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rubavu is at high-risk for Ebola transmission. From morning to dusk, vendors and customers flood across the border and back for daily business and trade.

“I have heard that up to 40,000 people cross each day,” says Esperance as she closes a transaction.

Despite the risk, Esperance relies on the steady stream of border crossers to bolster her business. Besides washing her hands regularly, she learns about Ebola symptoms, treatment and prevention from Radio Isano, a local UNICEF-supported station broadcasting one-minute Ebola messages every hour.

As Esperance sells watermelons and customers move between market stalls, Radio Isano blares over the market speakers.

“If you need more information about Ebola, call our toll-free hotline 114,” the radio journalist blurts.

“People moving through the border markets do not have time to read the newspaper or use social media. That’s why we use radio.” Francois “Sano” Niyigena

Francois “Sano” Niyigena is the founder of Radio Isano, committed to reaching his community with potentially life-saving advice.

Over the past seven months, UNICEF has supported Radio Isano to expand from four locations around Rubavu to eight, meaning wider coverage and more journalists dedicated to spreading information and updates.

Radio Isano’s speakers now stretch two kilometres from the border, permeating markets, bus parks and connecting roads.

“We are developing a radio drama on Ebola prevention,” says Sano, “and we have produced a song with popular Rwandan artists.”

He smiles. “We want to be informative, but also unique.”

Visiting Esperance back in her market stall, she is unconcerned. It seems Radio Isano is getting through.

“Very serious measures have been taken to prevent Ebola in Rwanda,” Esperance says confidently. “We are not worried.”

{{Source : UNICEF Rwanda}}

In Umwidagaduro Village, Daniel Munyankindi knocks on his neighbour’s door and steps inside. It is not the first house he has visited today, but he takes a seat and warmly addresses the family with fresh enthusiasm. At first glance, it seems like an informal visit, but Daniel is here with an important agenda.

“Tell me, what do you know about Ebola?” Daniel asks the family.

One of four community health workers in Umwidagaduro, Daniel has been trained to help raise awareness around Ebola prevention. Visiting families in his community, he teaches the signs and symptoms of Ebola, how to get treatment, and how to prevent the disease from spreading.

{{Ebola prevention starts at home}}

Five months ago, UNICEF and its partner Global Humanitarian and Development Foundation (GHDF) introduced the home visit programme in Rwanda’s 15 districts at high-risk for Ebola transmission. About 10,000 community health workers were trained, aiming to reach 30,000 houses.

“When you meet people in their homes, you are more connected. You can exchange information easily, because people feel free to discuss their ideas and ask questions.” Daniel, Community Health Worker in Musanze

Incredibly, health workers like Daniel have already reached over 43,000 homes with potentially life-saving advice on Ebola.

“The impact is huge,” he smiles. “When I visit families, I find that more than 50 percent already know a lot about Ebola and how to prevent it. We are passing on our own knowledge and training to our communities.”

{{The road ahead}}

Discussing with the family he visits, Daniel gestures to a colorful leaflet depicting Ebola symptoms. Communication materials like these were designed by UNICEF and distributed across thousands of villages.

With the threat of Ebola looming, over 1,500 additional health workers have been trained. UNICEF and GHDF have set a new target of 115,780 homes, a stark reminder of the work left ahead.

“So far, I have visited 25 homes,” says Daniel. “I think this method of visiting homes is much better than mass broadcasting. You just connect better.”

To prevent Ebola from reaching Rwanda, UNICEF supports the Government’s National Contingency Plan through community mobilization and engagement, providing information and platforms for discussion through mass media, and developing communication materials on Ebola signs, symptoms, treatment and prevention measures.

UNICEF has also developed educational materials for schools, trained over 10,000 community health workers on risk communication, and supported 24 hospitals, 259 health centres and 21 points of entry with necessary supplies. Over 6 million people have been reached, with efforts ongoing to prepare communities in Rwanda’s 15 high-risk districts.

{{Source: UNICEF Rwanda}}