Community education effective tool to combat COVID-19.

LAHORE -- A scientific study by Punjab University has shown that medical preparedness and community education proved to be the most valued preventive tools in combating COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a study 'Role of media in health-related awareness campaigns on the perception towards 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): A pre-post study in the general population in Rawalpindi, Pakistan', awareness and knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures significantly increased over time among the people due to the massive media campaigns launched since the first case was reported in Pakistan.

Findings of the scientific research also proved that increased frequency of media campaigns enhanced public awareness regarding COVID-19.

The research was conducted by PhD Public Health scholar Atta-ur-Rehman, under the supervision of Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, Punjab University Director Prof Dr Rubeena Zakar.

The research showed that media had been serving as an important tool for health education and promotion in our societies for decades, while health-related communication campaigns through media were aimed at changing the health behaviour of the population by creating awareness and promoting prevention, such as hand hygiene practices and...