Nepal finds medicine in Music; Radio, Bands join hands to counsel people

Kathmandu, May 6: UNICEF Nepal, in collaboration with the country's leading Radio Channel-Radio Nepal is reaching out to millions of people in need of information, aid and help.

The veteran anchor of Radio Nepal announced the launch of a special programme as Nepal struggles to cope with the aftermath of the 7.9 Richter scale disaster that hit the country on April 25.

'Bhandai Sundai', a vision of UNICEF Nepal, aired its first broadcast on Sunday morning and the main aim of the broadcast is to strike a conversation with people, counsel them, and let them share the grievances, fears, trauma and concerns on air.

The show is aired four times a day-the first slot in aired in the morning for 20-minutes, which deals with earthquake relief response. The afternoon slot is a 55 minute show involving telephone calls for women and children experiencing shock post earthquake. Country's top psychologists respond to their questions.

Late afternoon airs a 20-minute slot, which is an ‘edutainment' session for children, and the last 45-minute in the evening focuses on psychosocial support for families. People too have responded well to the programs as they can talk and share real-life issues with psychological help coming immediately. Some said, they were happy that the children's minds were diverted as they could sing and talk.

Meanwhile, a Nepali Band-'Hands-on-Hands-in the name of Pashupatinath' is doing its best to help people to overcome grief and encouraging them to support each other in time of need. They perform everyday outside the Pashupatinath temple, urging people to stay strong in this hour of crisis.

Indeed! music heals.