Merundoi focusses on garbage problem

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

Flash back: A World Environment Day 'Green Walk' passes by a garbage dump on Light Street between North Road and Church Street. — Flash back: A World Environment Day ‘Green Walk’ passes by a garbage dump on Light Street between North Road and Church Street.

Merundoi, the popular radio serial drama, will from Monday focus on how to best grapple with the garbage crisis facing several communities across the country

The non-governmental organisation appealed for funds to help support Season 4 from the time the radio drama hits the airwaves from Monday September 2, 2013.

“Merundoi Incorporated is a Behaviour Change Communication NGO and invites the public and private sector to sponsor Season 4 as it deals with a serious social and health issue of garbage disposal which has become a cause of great vexation to all Guyanese,” said the NGO in a statement.

While many people believe that the garbage crisis mainly affects Georgetown, increasingly garbage piles are being seen in several coastal communities- an indication of poor garbage collection by the councils combined with disposal anywhere by residents and businesses.

It promises to be as entertaining and educational as previous seasons and will see the return of favourite characters such as Dinah Boston, Sonny, James Williams and Ignatius Thomas. Safe Waste Management will start off the season and it is expected that storylines covering Chronic Diseases, HIV/TB co-infection and Vulnerable Youth will be introduced overtime.

Season 1 was launched on Oct. 16, 2006 as a PEPFAR HIV/AIDS project while Season 2 carried messages aimed at behaviour change in Birth Registration, Income Tax compliance and Voter registration. Season 3 which ended on July31, 2013 dealt with Gender Based Violence.

Merundoi is the longest running Radio Serial Drama in Guyana and the Caribbean and has to its credit over 650 episodes. It is quite popular locally and internationally, registering an average 15,000 hits monthly from 25 countries. Merundoi was the only producer to make a presentation on radio content to the recent Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s (CBU) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Guyana. It has won several awards including PEPFAR HERO Award, Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA) Award for Business Excellence on HIV/AIDS through National Action and Honorable Mention for the GBCHA Award for Business Excellence on HIV/AIDS in the Community /Media.