"In the Eastern DRC where the 10th Ebola epidemic was coming to an end, the advent of COVID-19 raised additional concern of dealing with two major health emergencies at the same time with implications for effective audience engagement, and compliance to public health measures. These concerns came against the backdrop of audience fatigue with Ebola programming and a seeming lack of trust in the Ebola response – seen by some members of the public as a money-making venture. Similar concern and mistrust are also expressed with the COVID-19 response. Given this, Internews secured funding from BHA/USAID to respond to the growing rumors and misinformation about COVID-19 and provide life-saving information to audiences. By working with local radio partners, Internews produced 23 radio programs and several Public Service Announcements that were aired over 14,000 times on 39 partner stations. This is in addition to expanding its rumor tracking to address community concerns on COVID-19 and building partner capacity on fact-checking and radio programming. In a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey conducted in December last year, 72% respondents cited Internews radio program, Tushinde Corona for improving their knowledge about COVID-19 and 74% credited it for changing certain behaviors and practices that include regular handwashing and use of facemask. While these are notable developments, challenges remain, particularly with the acceptance of and willingness to take COVID-19 vaccine, thus generating heated public debate. The government recently suspended vaccines delivered through the COVAX Facility citing safety concerns thus adding to existing rumors about the efficacy and reliability of COVID-19 vaccines. In the December KAP survey conducted by Internews, only 49% of respondents said they would take a COVID-19 vaccine or recommend it to someone - a figure that is similar to the 46% who said the same in a GeoPoll 2020 report on COVID-19 that focused on six countries including the DRC." (Executive summary)