Presentation of communication campaign on prevention of COVID-19 in indigenous communities

#EntreComunidadesNosCuidamos is called the communication campaign that seeks to spread messages related to care and other important information about COVID 19, from an intercultural perspective and from the reality of indigenous communities. The campaign foresees the elaboration and diffusion of graphics and radio spots translated into different indigenous languages, which address issues related to the Coronavirus and its prevention.

The initiative is promoted by the Federation for the Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples (FAPI), the Paraguayan Indigenous Institute (INDI), the Technical Secretariat for Economic and Social Development Planning (STP), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Day of Good Actions, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Pawanka Fund and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

The need and relevance of effective and culturally relevant communication for the indigenous population of Paraguay is undeniable, in such a way that they can successfully face the pandemic, attending to cultural and coexistence peculiarities.

Aware of this, communication materials directed at this sector, based on official information from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare and the World Health Organization, have been prepared in consultation with indigenous leaders.

The materials mentioned include relevant and pertinent advice for the prevention of COVID-19 and its protection.

"The flow of communication must take place in indigenous languages, through oral and quick access means, and with a gender perspective, considering the role of indigenous women within their families and communities, as caregivers of the home, of children, and of the elderly ”, mention the organizations in this regard.

In this context, they articulate their strengths and knowledge with the objective that the indigenous population incorporates preventive actions through the communicational management of government institutions, indigenous organizations, civil society networks, community radio, social networks and other media; using a communication strategy with cultural relevance.

In a first stage, messages are presented that point to prevention measures and the detection and attention to symptoms of the coronavirus, among them, graphics with allusive messages and radio spots.

In total, 24 graphics and six radio spots in Spanish and five other indigenous languages have been produced for each of the language families, seeking greater appropriation of preventive actions by the population of indigenous communities.

It has the support of the organizations and institutions mentioned above for the massive dissemination of messages and materials, in addition to indigenous communicators, regional organizations of Indigenous Peoples, community radio stations, health promoters, organizations linked to REDESPI and POJOAJU, the Inter-Agency Indigenous Group of the United Nations System, local governments, among other actors.

Sources: FAPI, UNDP