Yangon, Myanmar: Uniting the public through risk communication
By March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had put thousands of workers out of work in Yangon and become a serious health threat. Authorities decided right away that a mass media campaign focused on behavior change would be key for preventing wider spread of the virus and avoiding drastic shutdown measures down the line.
This case study was published more than two years ago.
Designed with support from the Partnership, the six-week “Let’s Beat COVID Together” campaign aimed to increase knowledge about how to prevent and control COVID-19 and to strongly encourage adherence to new public health and social measures (PHSMs) designed to slow the virus’ spread. Radio and television spots were followed by a Facebook campaign with a reach of over 3.5 million.
Read the case study
Mass media through the COVID-19 pandemic: Yangon, Myanmar
Facing rising cases of the novel coronavirus disease and inadequate public awareness or uptake of protective practices, the city of Yangon developed an effective mass media campaign entitled “Let’s Beat COVID Together.” With a positive tone and a message of solidarity, the campaign served to unite the public around playing their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and in supporting patients and healthcare workers on the front lines. The campaign was broadcast on radio, TV and social media—reporting an online reach of over 3.5 million at the end of six weeks. As clear and accurate communication around the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a priority, this whole-of-society collaboration in Yangon serves as a valuable model.