GAM launches COVID awareness campaign

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality on Monday (GAM) launched a communication campaign to better inform the public about how to protect themselves and each other during the COVID-19 pandemic.

GAM created the campaign as part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of cities supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with the World Health Organisation and the global public health organisation Vital Strategies, according to a statement from the municipality.

The campaign is also supported by UNICEF and the Royal Health Awareness Society, it added.

Amman Mayor Yousef Al Shawarbeh said that this campaign comes in the context of national efforts to deal with the pandemic and to enhance community awareness, especially in transport sectors, restaurants, parks and slaughterhouses, over which the municipality has full supervision.

He added that, prior to this launch, the municipality conducted a local survey to find out the most effective tools and channels for sharing awareness messages with the public. 

The results of the survey showed that social media, especially Facebook, was the most effective, followed by radio stations, websites and then television channels.

Director of the Partnership for Healthy Cities Ariella Rojhani said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is primarily an urban crisis, placing cities at the forefront of the response to this unprecedented public health emergency. The Partnership remains committed to supporting Amman and other cities worldwide in saving lives, protecting urban residents and building a healthy future.”

The new campaign includes a competition inviting individuals to be partners in designing and launching COVID-19 awareness messages, where all segments of society will be asked to submit ideas for combating the coronavirus. 

Submissions may include a short video, audio segment, text message or social media design. A committee will select among entries, with measurements of success including the number of likes for a Facebook post. Winners will receive a prize, the statement said.