Mieraf
In June 2010, Population Media Center began broadcasting its sixth radio serial drama, Mieraf (“New Beginning”) in the Amharic language. The program, funded by UNICEF, addresses the role and importance of health extension workers.
There are over 30,000 health extension workers living throughout Ethiopia. These health extension workers have been trained to help communities deal with basic health issues, providing family planning services and assist with births. Unfortunately, many people in the community do not utilize these services and PMC hopes to change that perception throughout Ethiopia through Mieraf.
Mieraf provides role models for the general community in addition to the health extension workers. It also increases awareness and acceptance of the responsibilities of health extension workers. The drama airs twice a week and is divided into two segments. The second segment, Fenote (“The Right Road”), features live discussions with real-life Health Extension Workers to help build trust and a common understanding with the people they are ultimately trying to help and serve.
One student from Mekele University in Ethiopia wrote to PMC about the program in January 2011 and said, “As a medical student, I knew beforehand the Health Extension Program was a strategy employed by the government, but I had little knowledge of the procedures, the good practices, and also the challenges of the program. I now know that the strategy of preventative care greatly reduces mortality rates and plays an important role in the betterment of the health situation of the country. This program is the way forward.”
Fenote also includes call-ins from listeners where they can discuss the issues raised in Mieraf.
Mieraf tells the story of Hibist, a 21-year-old-girl living with her family in a rural village in Ethiopia. Two of Hibist’s siblings dies young because of birthing complications, and Hibist is the only girl in a family of four living children. With very traditional parents, she struggles to find her place among her three brothers and to overcome the challenges of being female in a male-dominated society. Despite the criticism she endures from all sides, Hibist completes her 10-year education and joins the Health Extension Worker Program, where she is determined to find a way to improve the health of her family and community.
Throughout the course of the drama, Hibist is confronted with numerous challenges – her relationship with her fiance hands in a delicate balance, she must survive the temptations of drugs and alcohol, and most of all, she must fight against time when there is a malaria outbreak in her village.
In 2011, Mieraf received the award for Best Serial Drama at the Population Institute’s Global Media Awards.
