Bertha—a journalist and mother of two—uses community radio to protect her family and her neighbors

Bertha traveled for hours to reach Chipata, Zambia, to take part in a special three-day training workshop for community radio station journalists. The journalists had come from diverse backgrounds and had varying levels of experience, but they were all in Chipata for the same reason: to work together to fight malaria. Community radio is increasingly being recognized as an important way to share information about malaria prevention and control. The workshop helped Bertha strengthen her ability to produce accurate and effective radio segments about malaria, while also providing important information that will help her better protect herself and her family.

Malaria is not something new to Bertha: when she was a child she nearly died from cerebral malaria. Unable to hear or talk for four days, Bertha says that the headaches, fevers, and vomiting from the disease were almost unbearable. It was only after spending two weeks in the hospital that she finally began to improve. Hoping to protect her own children from such pain and suffering, Bertha has been actively involved in the fight to control malaria, both as a journalist and as a mother. Because community radio reaches over 80 percent of Zambians—particularly those in rural areas—Bertha knows that she is making a difference in the lives of others.

With her youngest baby strapped to her back with a chitenge, Bertha gently rocks back and forth, discussing the steps she has taken to keep her children healthy. During her pregnancy, she took preventive medicines and now sleeps under a bednet every night with her children. “It helped me. I haven’t had malaria since before I got pregnant.” Her baby laughs and coos, looking strong and alert. Thanks to a mother’s love, her children will grow up healthy and happy.

Photo credit: PATH.