Pre-production has begun on a live-to-air format radio show in Malawi called Tigonjetse Beat it! Wailesi. The show will launch nationally at the end of October on MBC Radio 1 (Malawi’s national broadcaster Malawi Broadcast Corporation), with a repeat show on MBC2.
Tigonjetse Beat it! Wailesi will take the format of a live talk show, where viewers can call in or SMS spontaneous, unscripted questions and comments to the hosts. The show will be hosted by a male and female community HIV education expert, in Chichewa. It will also feature interviews recorded in the community, which will evoke discussion of the topics. The radio series will consist of 52 one-hour programmes, and will feature a variety of guests. The live programme will provide reliable, scientifically based information to people living with HIV and AIDS, their partners, family, friends, care-givers and health workers.
The project is intended to enable its audience, regardless of status, to respond positively to the impact of the epidemic in their lives. It uses radio to overcome the language and literacy barriers to understanding HIV/AIDS information.
This 52-part series on radio will support on-the-ground training conducted by community workers conducting health promotion talks. A mass media initiative is required to strengthen the efforts of the community workers, as they provide on-the-ground training throughout Thyolo. These community workers will be actively involved in the weekly radio show topics, through trainings and workshops, allowing for a unified voice on HIV/AIDs related issues. This training initiative is a partnership between CMT, Medicines Sans Frontiers and Napham.