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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN/ UNMISS COVID-19 OUTREACH
TRT: 03:02
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH
DATELINE: 20 APRIL 2020, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Wide shot, promo truck reversing
2. Wide shot, banner displaying key messages
3. Wide shot, DJ securing speaker
4. Wide shot, DJ plugging in cable
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lorna Merekaje, Coordinator, Citizens Taskforce:
“This whole programme is being rolled out in collaboration with UNMISS. So, we have messages that are pre-recorded in different languages, so wherever we go, like in POC where we know predominantly the people there understand one particular language then the message is played in their language.”
6. Wide shot, DJ playing messages
7. Close up, audio mixer
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lorna Merekaje, Coordinator, Citizens Taskforce:
“We are using the standard messages approved by WHO which mainly focuses on washing hands. What we do is we contextualize that and inform the people of the importance and we also emphasize the importance of social distancing and taking in consideration the culture in South Sudan we feel that social distance per say may not be understood by our people, therefore what we do is go into details and tell them that it means that you don’t have to be close to people at least keep a distance of at least two metres away from the other person.”
9. Various shots, promo truck moving through the Juba streets
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lorna Merekaje, Coordinator, Citizens Taskforce:
“One of the biggest challenges that we have observed and being a South Sudanese is that it takes my people long to accept and the myth that had been there has confused a lot. There is so much miscommunication in society. Some people think COVID-19 is not about them. It’s a foreign thing and it’s a disease that will not affect them as South Sudanese. Others are saying you take strong tea in the morning, which is all-wrong and what we are saying is that we are all human and COVID-19 affects everybody.”
11. Various shots, promo truck
12. SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary General, UNMISS
“UNMISS is travelling right around the country, going to places like Leer, Ding Ding, from Malakal right down to Yambio across to Wau and right down into the Eastern Equatoria. Same message. In the languages that people understand. Keep safe. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. All of the same messages that I have to follow and everybody should follow and in the POC’s because everybody is so close together.”
13. Various shots, promo truck in Juba POC
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has partnered with the newly formed Citizens Taskforce on COVID-19, to create awareness of the virus and its dangers and how they can combat it whilst protecting themselves and the people around them.
The group is made up of citizens from every walk of life in South Sudanese society and came together after they saw there was a need to address the misconceptions about the virus.
Their partnership with UNMISS takes the form of a 14-day outreach event using a promo truck which rides around Juba and throughout the country broadcasting messages in the local languages.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lorna Merekaje, Coordinator, Citizens Taskforce:
“We are using the standard messages approved by WHO which mainly focuses on washing hands. What we do is we contextualize that and inform the people of the importance and we also emphasize the importance of social distancing and taking in consideration the culture in South Sudan we feel that social distance per say may not be understood by our people, therefore what we do is go into details and tell them that it means that you don’t have to be close to people at least keep a distance of at least two metres away from the other person.”
The messages the truck plays have been given out by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Citizens Taskforce has just contextualized them so that residents could understand why they are being told to do certain things.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lorna Merekaje, Coordinator, Citizens Taskforce:
“One of the biggest challenges that we have observed and being a South Sudanese is that it takes my people long to accept and the myth that had been there has confused a lot. There is so much miscommunication in society. Some people think COVID-19 is not about them. It’s a foreign thing and it’s a disease that will not affect them as South Sudanese. Others are saying you take strong tea in the morning, which is all-wrong and what we are saying is that we are all human and COVID-19 affects everybody.”
There are thirty-five confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Sudan and Merekaje says they have had challenges in trying to dispel the myths and beliefs.
UNMISS aims to spread the messages and to get the word out that the coronavirus affects everyone and that all persons should take precautions in order to stop it from spreading.
SOUNDBITE (English) David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary General, UNMISS
“UNMISS is travelling right around the country, going to places like Leer, Ding Ding, from Malakal right down to Yambio across to Wau and right down into the Eastern Equatoria. Same message. In the languages that people understand. Keep safe. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. All of the same messages that I have to follow and everybody should follow and in the POC’s because everybody is so close together.”
It is hoped that residents take the virus seriously and maintain the preventative measures in order to stop it from spreading.
