In Fighting Polio, Information Is Half the Battle

This article explores the strategies of Radio Mashaal, which is working in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to counter the propaganda put forth by militant groups that is described here as interfering with efforts to eradicate polio in that country and, hence, around the world. Polio workers in Pakistan, who are often women, operate in a hostile environment under threats of violence - too often turning deadly. The Islamic militant group Jundullah claimed responsibility for the attacks, telling Radio Mashaal that polio vaccination is forbidden in Islam. Militants have also claimed that the vaccines are part of a plot to make Muslim children infertile.

In that context, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)'s Pashto language service seeks to provide accurate information and connect aid workers with communities. As reported here, Radio Mashaal regularly engages the public through call-in shows, often inviting doctors to answer questions directly from listeners and raise awareness as to when polio vaccination campaigns commence. Women figure prominently among those who call in, often seeking reassurance that the polio drops pose no threat to their children. In addition to doctors, Radio Mashaal has invited mullahs to participate in programmes to explain to audiences that the polio vaccines do not violate Islamic doctrine.

The article notes that Radio Mashaal "frequently receives grateful emails and phone calls from listeners..." Furthermore, in an interview, one doctor claimed that since Radio Mashaal highlighted the issue of polio drops in its programme, the number of parents who refused to have polio drops administered to their children dropped by nearly 50%. Another doctor opened a free, one-day health camp for the people of the tribal regions "solely because of the amount of calls he received on Radio Mashaal's call-in program".