Women's Radio Station Opens in Afghanistan

Radio Sahar is one of 15 community FM radio stations established by USAID in Afghanistan through implementing partner, Internews. The station which broadcasts on 88.7 MHz, went on the air October 25, 2003, and reaches approximately 300,000 people in the city of Herat. To date, Radio Sahar has received approximately $18,000 in USAID support for equipment, training, and operations. The station currently broadcasts three hours a day and has plans to increase to six hours a day.

This station is one of four stations managed and operated by women which actively advance gender issues in their programming. All the staff of Radio Sahar are women and at least half of the programming is designed for a female audience. In addition to broadcasting programs produced by Internews, Radio Sahar also produces local content. The station dedicates one hour a week to general health concerns and the staff frequently interview doctors, dentists and other heath care professionals.

During a recent visit to Afghanistan, Dr. Anne Peterson, USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health, visited the station. Dr. Peterson was interviewed on air about USAID’s health programs in the country, with a special focus on USAID efforts to distribute chlorine for water purification.