Swasthya Plus News Desk
- Many New Paths (Kete Nua Bata), in its second season, is a joint media advocacy campaign by OdishaLIVE and Swasthya Plus focused on children & young people during COVID-19
- The Many New Paths campaign is supported by UNICEF, India. Government of Odisha’s initiative ‘Mo College’ is the Knowledge Partner for the campaign
- The episode focuses on the ‘United Fight against COVID-19 in Odisha’
- Emphasis on spreading awareness during this health crisis
- Role of youth in these unforeseen circumstances
- Stories of frontline COVID warriors
Listen to the Audio Episode (in Odia)
The world has come to a standstill as the pandemic around us rages on, especially so in several parts of India. In this setting, several people and organisations are putting up a united front to fight against COVID-19. Many people have lost their sources of livelihood and even their loved ones. In an attempt to spread awareness around COVID-19 and shine some positivity among people in Odisha, digital news platform OdishaLIVE and health & wellness media network Swasthya Plus have started the campaign Many New Paths. This campaign is supported by UNICEF, Odisha and the Government of Odisha’s ‘Mo College’ initiative has joined in as the Knowledge Partner. The first audio episode of this campaign went on air on Sunday, 23 May and this episode focused on the United Fight against COVID-19 in Odisha.
The episode went on air in all stations of All India Radio, Odisha at 10 AM as well as on Radio Choklate 104 FM (Bhubaneswar) at 11 AM. The same was widely disseminated on the YouTube, Facebook, and other web and social channels of OdishaLIVE and Swasthya Plus Odia.
The first audio episode featured:
- Akash Dasnayak – Chairperson, ‘Mo College’
- Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra – Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha
- Monika Nielsen – Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Odisha
- Professor Dr Jayanta Kumar Panda – HOD, Department of Medicine, SCB Medical College
- Sharmishtha Sutar – Staff Nurse, KIMS Hospital
- Padmabati Patel – Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan’s (NYKS) volunteer, Kalahandi.
Akash Dasnayak, Chairperson, ‘Mo College’ said: “We are all facing a difficult situation right now and we will need patience and endurance while we cross these troubling waters. Alongside that, it is important to think and talk about the many new paths that we can take to successfully ride out this storm.”
Odisha is dealing with an emergency health crisis right now, which is why, ample steps involving lockdown, shutdown and creating containment zones are being taken to curb the spread of the virus. Moreover, the most important tool against fighting COVID-19 is to follow the guidelines. Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha while speaking on this stressed that “the second wave of COVID-19 has caused irreparable damage to Odisha, which is why, people must follow the necessary guidelines like wearing masks, maintaining social distance and avoiding crowded areas.”
Monika Nielsen, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Odisha while speaking on the show remarked: “As Odisha deals with COVID-19 again this year, there are many challenges and difficulties ahead of us. This is an especially difficult time for children, adolescents and young people. Schools have been closed for a long time and young people are anxious about their higher education and career prospects. It is therefore very important for all of us to support children and young people as they navigate their way through the pandemic.”
She further added: “Through our media campaign ‘Kete Nua Bata,’ which means ‘Many New Paths’, we are attempting to bring together voices of children, adolescents and young people as well as many others who are selflessly contributing to the fight against COVID. This campaign will be an exploration of human resilience, joy and togetherness as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been working closely and relentlessly with governmental counterparts to ensure essential services are maintained especially for those who need the most help.”
Along with the virus, the pandemic has also spread fear among the masses. Even so, this has not deterred the COVID warriors from doing their jobs. Joining in from Bhubaneswar, KIMS Hospital, Staff Nurse Sarmishtha Sutar said: “When families and friends are not allowed inside COVID wards, we are taking care of the patients battling with COVID-19. In this endeavour, far too many colleagues have contracted the virus and many of them have lost their lives trying to save others. Though this has given way to huge amounts of emotional distress, we have not surrendered to fear.”
Likewise, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan’s volunteer Padmabati Patel while joining from Kalahandi informed the audiences about the numerous ways through which volunteers from NYKS have been serving the people in need – like making masks for them and spreading awareness. “We also try to help out the migrant workers and guide people regarding the vaccination process.,” said Patel.
While advising the audiences, Professor Dr Jayanta Kumar Panda, HOD, Department of Medicine, SCB Medical College underlined the importance of getting vaccinated. He explained how vaccines help our immune system: “Vaccine helps in the creation of antibodies in our bodies, which is why, it is important to get vaccinated. Alongside that, since there is still a chance of contracting the virus after being vaccinated, we must follow the COVID guidelines strictly.”
During these unprecedented times of crisis, the Many New Paths campaign strives to showcase stories of resilience and shine positivity among people in Odisha. The campaign shall bring insights to fight COVID-19 infection, experiences of young people during the pandemic, stories of volunteers and healthcare workers and disseminate important information as well as advice from doctors.
As part of this campaign, a fortnightly audio show and a fortnightly video show will be aired on alternate Sundays on social media pages of Swasthya Plus Odia and OdishaLIVE, as well as the Radio & TV partners of the campaign – All India Radio (Odisha), Radio Choklate 104 FM (Bhubaneswar), Kanak News (TV), and DD Odia News (TV).