"Our listeners first thought it was a disease that only affected whites or the elite, those who could afford to travel out of the country. But it wasn't for them," recalls Kaneng, a presenter at one of Search's partner radio stations in Plateau State, Nigeria.

For three months, Kaneng presented the radio talk show Working Together Against Corona created by Search and funded by the European Union to inform and counter rumors about COVID-19. During the show, the hosts and experts addressed the various issues and impacts of the pandemic and took calls from listeners to answer their questions, listen to their experiences and allay their fears.

"This virus was new to everyone. We wanted to go beyond educating people about protective measures to helping them live with the virus. That means paying attention to all aspects of life, like how people can live amid the pandemic from an economic, educational or health perspective."

And in Jos, as elsewhere, the pandemic was unprecedented. Both the population and the health facilities were unprepared for the magnitude of the outbreak. Many of the stories shared by listeners illustrated this. "When it all started, all the dysfunctions became glaring. Most health workers did not have adequate protective equipment. Some had no choice but to reuse it. Frontline workers were even afraid to treat sick colleagues because they had nothing to protect themselves."

At first dubious about the existence of the disease, the increasing number of deaths made it real for the population. With this awareness came other burdens. “People were abandoned because of fear. Families rejected their sick relatives, and one victim's house was even burned down."

Fighting the misconceptions that lead to stigma, the hosts and guests lent their voices "to help people understand that the disease is not a death sentence”. In addition, the radio team invited survivors to share their stories of recovery. "For most listeners, this was the first time they heard and had the chance to interact with someone who had been affected. This helped to strengthen understanding of the disease and change people's perception of it."

Kaneng also explored avenues for solutions on topics such as equal educational opportunities. "During the period of confinement, only rich children had the opportunity to be home-schooled while poor children were left to fend for themselves." On air, Kaneng spoke with government officials, who "confided that the government is moving forward with measures to ensure that all children can learn at home, including through the digitization of education," to prevent such divides in future crises.

The pandemic has made the daily hardships of Nigerians more visible, drawing out people's empathy and solidarity. Through the program, Kaneng felt more connected to her fellow citizens. "It opened my eyes and gave me a better understanding of my society and its struggles. I'm glad I was able to address some of them and the misconceptions about the disease."