Radio series for parents on COVID-19 launched in Caribbean

Radio series for parents on COVID 19 launched in Caribbean

^{UNICEF and PAHO team up for USAID-supported show}

BARBADOS, 20 May 2020 – ‘COVID 19: Supporting our Children’ is the theme of a six-part radio series presented by UNICEF and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) .  The series will be broadcast on 12 stations in the Eastern Caribbean.

The show is targeted at parents, guardians and caregivers of  preschool to primary-aged children.  The aim of the show is  to ensure that their children are protected, enabled and supported  throughout the COVID 19 pandemic. 

The topics include: Can social media use get out of control? The parent’s dilemma; Your child and You- What I can do now that the day care is closed; Child Protection and COVID-19; Should I be concerned about child abuse, including Stigma; When your child misbehaves - Positive discipline at home and the Implications for the mental health of children.

Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area described the show as being of upmost importance because of the direct and indirect impact the pandemic is having on children and young people. He described some of these as widespread school closures and disruption of education, the possibility of increased violence levels, rising unemployment and poverty projected levels, and increased demand for social protection.

 “All children, of all ages, and in all countries, are being affected but some children are destined to bear the greatest costs in ways that permanently alter the trajectories of their lives. These are especially children living in the poorest households, children with disabilities, children living in institutions and detention facilities. Their continued care is easily put in jeopardy at a time of crisis,” the UNICEF head said.

The radio programmes will feature local experts that are in tune with the varying situations across the region.  Listeners will also be provided with an opportunity to ask questions.

The radio stations are CBC 98.1 -Barbados, NBC Radio – St Vincent and the Grenadines, DBS- Dominica, Helen Radio - St Lucia, ZIZ -St Kitts, CBN 90.9 – BVI, Klassic 105 FM – Grenada, Radio Anguilla 95.5, ZJB Radio – Montserrat, Observer Radio – Antigua, TBC Network - Trinidad and RTC - Turks and Caicos. There are social media posts, radio spots and TV ads to promote the show.  The series is produced by SFa Communications Inc.

For more information, please contact Communication Specialist

Lisa McClean Trotman/UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area / 1246  836-9957 / lmcleantrotman@unicef.org

Patrick Knight/UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area / 1246 8369962  pknight@unicef.org