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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Live VOA Creole Call-in Show Links Haitians

Live VOA Creole Call-in Show Links Haitians With Medical Professionals

Haitians questioned medical professionals today in a live VOA Creole Service program that was anchored from outside the ruined presidential palace
Washington, D.C., January 27, 2010 – Haitians questioned medical professionals today in a live Voice of America (VOA) Creole Service program that was anchored from outside the ruined presidential palace in Port-au-Prince and heard by millions of people.

Jean Robert Philippe, a VOA broadcaster, was surrounded by Haitians in the capital city seeking to pose questions to the medical team after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. Callers from across Haiti dialed into the program from cell phones.

Mode Silver, a psychologist based in Miami, Fla., told callers the effects of the earthquake will be felt for generations of Haitians. Also participating was Dr. Marie-Josee Fransoi, a specialist in community and public health from Orlando, Florida.

“Our goal was to give listeners a chance to get answers directly from medical professionals,” said Ronald Cesar, chief of VOA’s Creole Service. “Living through the earthquake has left many of them both physically and emotionally scarred, and we want to try to ease their suffering any way that we can.”

VOA Creole-language broadcasts have expanded to 10.5 hours a day on weekdays, and 9.5 hours on weekends since the Jan. 12 earthquake. VOA’s Creole Service reaches more than 50 percent of adult Haitians on a weekly basis. Up-to-date information is also available around the clock on www.VOANews.com/creole .
(VOA)