OdishaPlus Bureau
- A joint initiative of OdishaLIVE and Swasthya Plus
- Supported by UNICEF, Odisha
- Brings insights on COVID-19 management in the state
- Stories of COVID Warriors and COVID Heroes
- Advises by Doctors and Specialists
- Radio series airs every Sunday at 10.30 AM
- Emphasis on children, education, health, youth and more
Facing the Covid-19 epidemic has posed a major challenge for all of us. The Odisha government has launched a massive public awareness campaign since the epidemic broke out in Odisha. The fourth episode of ‘Kete Nua Bata’ elaborates on the steps taken by the government to tackle this pandemic situation, the advice of health experts, and the story of the COVID warriors and COVID heroes. The episode is rightly titled ‘Health response to covid19’.
Among those who have discussed and commented on the fourth chapter of ‘Kete Nua Bata’ are Corona Chief Spokesperson, Govt. of Odisha Subroto Bagchi, UNICEF Odisha Health Specialist Dr Meena Som, Dr Ruma Mahapatra from Sundargarh COVID Health Care Centre, DHH Kendrapara Laboratory Technician Soubhagya Ranjan Basantia.
UNICEF has stepped up its efforts to address the issue. UNICEF has provided technical assistance to the state government on how to properly manage the health care system, health workers and other affiliates during the corona pandemic” says Dr. Meena Som, UNICEF Odisha Health Specialist. She also discusses how UNICEF trained health workers, starting with Anganwadi workers, have been trained at the block and district levels.
Leaving their families behind, doctors, nurses and health workers have joined the battle against coronavirus. These people have been recognized by the government as a frontline warriors against COVID19, says Ruma Mohapatra, a doctor at the Sundargarh Covid Health Care Center.
During the spread of Coronavirus and the lockdown scene, digital news platform OdishaLIVE and health & wellness portal Swasthya Plus have come together with a new media campaign titled ‘Kete Nua Bata’, supported by UNICEF Odisha. The campaign aims at disseminating new information to the public while sprouting courage through positive messages and the real life stories of COVID Heroes.
As a part of the campaign, ‘Kete Nua Bata’, a weekly radio series is lined up every Sunday on 10.30 AM. The programme goes on air in all stations of All India Radio, Odisha, every Sunday at 10.30 am. Similarly, the audio series reaches the audiences at the same time in India and abroad through web and social media platforms of OdishaLIVE and Swasthya Plus including Facebook, Helo and YouTube.
Another COVID Warrior is Sumitra Behera, a nurse at the Dhenkanal Covid Health Center. She discusses in detail how nurses are providing care to patients and how to keep themselves safe.
An affected cannot be identified without examination. The swab collection for testing a person for COVID infection is not so easy. Soubhagya Ranjan Basantia describes his experience of collecting swabs by going to a person with corona symptoms. Soubhagya is in charge of swab collection in Kendrapara district. He recalls his experience inthis episode of Kete Nua Bata.
Lastly, Ollywood actor Mihir Das, has a message for the public. Mihir appealed to the general public to respect the frontline workers like doctors, nurses, health professionals, sanitation staff and other ground staff and to honour the covid warriors. Mihir Das said corona would lose against humanity if everyone cooperated.
‘Keta Nua Bata’, written and produced by Nilambar Rath, founder and editor, OdishaLIVE and mentor of the campaign, is designed with 13 episodes and it shall go on air till 23 August 2020.
As a part of the campaign, the media is carrying series of stories and interviews on the subject which are being published across more than 10 web and social channels. UNICEF’s popular animation and audio series, titled ‘Meena’, is also being aired and podcast under the ‘Kete Nua Bata’ campaign.