Holla!!!
I’m sure you are wondering what SAWBO TEAM means or what the American HOLLYWOOD is doing in Nigeria?
Well, the same question crossed my mind when I first heard it too, but don’t worry because yours sincerely has all the information you need about this, just read along.
The SAWBO team
In our last post, we talked about the “SCIENTIFIC ANIMATION WITHOUT BORDERS (SAWBO)” https://myuniquenet.wordpress.com/2020/05/24/revealedwhy-you-need-sawbo and what they do. We also did mention that SAWBO is a Michigan State University based Program and well, there were a lot of things we didn’t mention, but I’m sure you have made out time to look them up. If not, please wait! Check this out https://sawbo-animations.org.
Good to have you back! Sure you had a great time looking them up.
Now, let’s go on.
I didn’t mention the important role they play in this COVID-19 period by ensuring the dissemination of timely and adequate information to everyone who cares to listen and be adequately informed about the novel COVID-19 pandemic, through the use of animations which are translated into different languages to ensure that this information gets to everyone irrespective of language, age, gender, etc.
HOW DOES THIS CONCERN HOLLYWOOD AND NIGERIA?
Hmmm!!!
I’m sure that is your question but don’t worry, just read on:
Addressing the misinformation on COVID-19 in Nigeria
Since after the first cases of COVID-19 on 27th February and death on 23rd March, 2020 were reported in Nigeria, there has been all kinds of misinformation and rumors making waves in the country such as (eating ginger and garlic, drinking and bathing with hot water, standing under the sun for some hours etc prevents the corona virus. Some even said that corona virus is a rich man’s sickness, it doesn’t affect poor people while others argue that the virus cannot survive under the country’s harsh weather condition. Hmmm!!!)
These amongst other beliefs triggered serious safety concerns for millions of vulnerable people across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in the north-east region, where nearly 11 years of conflict have had devastating impacts on critical infrastructure, particularly health, which is crucial for the management of the pandemic. The more than 1.8 million internally displaced people living in overcrowded camps and communities relying on basic support provided by aid agencies were considered especially vulnerable.
With the pandemic projected to spread across all regions in the country, UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations working in the BAY states have, since the beginning of March, rolled out several awareness and risk mitigation messaging across different media channels, including TV, radio, print and social media.
These concerns resulted in a collaboration between the UN-OCHA in Nigeria, Hollywood animator Neal Sternecky, Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) and the popular Hausa Television AREWA24 to produce a COVID-19 video for distribution throughout Nigeria. The myth-busting animation addresses rampant misinformation on the virus and is in support of the Government’s response to the pandemic and its cooperation with the Nigeria Humanitarian Communications Working Group in scaling up awareness and of course, in support of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Click https://youtu.be/F5FkL5Y0o-s to watch this myth-busting animation on COVID-19
SAWBO, was approached by long-time partner AREWA24, the Nigerian TV station that broadcasts to more than 38 million people in sub-Sharan Africa in their native Hausa language, and the Nigeria Humanitarian Communications Working Group, which is chaired by OCHA.
Importance of the COVID-19 animation video
Like I earlier stated, there has been a lot of misleading beliefs and rumors on the prevention and cure of the novel COVID-19 which led to the timely intervention and production of this animation. Here are some reasons why it is important for everyone:
- Covid-19 is a novel pandemic that has no respect for anyone irrespective of age, gender, status etc.
- To prevent further spread of the virus in the country.
- It addresses the misleading information that has been spreading round the country.
- It is engaging and easy to understand.
- It was produced in different languages especially English https://sawbo-animations.org/892 and Hausa https://sawbo-animations.org/894
- It’s very easy to access so you don’t have to worry about any troubles, just click on any of those links in bullet number five (5) and you are there. Or click here: https://youtu.be/F5FkL5Y0o-s
- It can be downloaded to any device
- It can be shared even to WhatsApp status and groups. Please do well to share to someone who can also share with someone so that we can prevent further spread of the Covid-19. Sharing is free of charge and it will save lives.
Hollywood in Nigeria with Neal Sternecky:
If you are a true Nigerian, then you must have loved watching my favorite childhood cartoon (Tom and Jerry).
Neal Sternecky is the Hollywood animator that produced such cartoons as: Space Jam (1996), Tom and Jerry (2006-2014), Animaniacs (1995-1999), Robots (2005), Duck Dodgers (2003-2005) and many other animated films and series that you may have loved watching. He is the Hollywood animator to produce a COVID-19 animation video for distribution throughout Nigeria. I’d love to meet him soon oh! I’m sure you’d want to meet him too. You can read more about him and the covid-19 animation in Nigeria here: https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2020/scientific-animations-without-borders-goes-hollywood-for-myth-busting-covid-19-animation/
UN-OCHA:
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) is a part of the United Nations Organizations that contributes to principled and effective humanitarian response through coordination, advocacy, policy, information management and humanitarian financing tools and services. OCHA’s country and regional offices are responsible for delivering the core functions in the field by leveraging functional expertise throughout the organization.
The UN-OCHA operates in countries, regions and liaison offices around the world. The UN-OCHA in Nigeria collaborated with the SAWBO team, Hollywood’s Sternecky and the AREWA24 TV Channel to make the COVID-19 sensitization project in Nigeria a success. A specialized and dedicated OCHA staff work to ensure that effective assistance reaches millions of humanitarian beneficiaries in four continents. Click: https://www.unocha.org/story/aid-agencies-ramp-awareness-messaging-amid-growing-threat-covid-19-north-east-nigeria or https://www.unocha.org for more.
AREWA24:
AREWA24 and its production arm, AREWA24 Productions, was launched in 2014 to fill a glaring void of authentic, locally-produced and high-quality Hausa language entertainment and lifestyle programming that reflects pride in Northern Nigerian life, culture, music, film, art, cooking and sports. AREWA24 is passionate about reflecting pride in culture, projecting positive values and showcasing a rich and diverse cultural heritage that entertains, informs and inspires the region and its people.
Today, AREWA24 reaches approximately 38 million Hausa speakers in Nigeria and West Africa through its Eutelsat satellite free-to-air broadcast, on the StarTimes payTV bouquet (channel#138) the two Multichoice payTV platforms, DStv (channel #261) and GOtv (channel #101), and on the Canal+ payTV service (channel #285) in Niger, Chad and Cameroun.
AREWA24 has been a long-time partner of SAWBO and is one of the players in this COVID-19 project.
Visit: https://arewa24.com or https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/sawbo-celebrates-viewer-milestone-of-38-million-in-west-africa-with-broadcast-partner for more.
Stay with us for more interesting gist
Remember:
Staying safe is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19; BE RESPONSIBLE!!!
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