Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

This is the tireless announcer who is riding around villages spreading messages about the coronavirus to the most rural parts of China where information is hard to come by.

Su Wenfeng, 56, has been a staple of the township of Babie, which is in the city of Baise in China’s southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, since taking up his post as public service announcer in 1988.

The township has 13 villages, comprising 4,957 households and more than 20,000 residents, the majority of whom have no access to television or internet.

For the last three decades, they have relied on information provided by Mr Su, whose daily routine sees him transcribing the latest government announcement and then recording it on his loudhailer.

From morning until evening, Mr Su rides through villages playing his broadcasts, informing local residents – many elderly and illiterate – of the latest developments in the viral outbreak of covid-19.

His work involves reinterpreting official health notices and government press releases, creating easily understandable announcements using laymen terms in both mandarin and the local Zhuang people dialect.

He also goes into homes and businesses, handing out leaflets containing important hygiene and other disease-prevention information,

According to some reports, Mr Su is single-handedly responsible for ensuring tens of thousands of villagers remember to wear surgical masks and remain indoors to avoid contracting or spreading the killer virus which has so far claimed the lives of at least 1,113 in mainland China in December last year.

Without Mr Su, villagers would never know how serious the outbreak is, reports said.

Mr Su said: “Because Bajie Township is in a remote mountain region, many of the elderly do not use mobile phones or have access to news.

“These areas rely on broadcasts for information. It’s the only way they will understand.”

Mr Su’s announcements also serve as warnings during typhoons, floods, and after earthquakes.

He added: “I hope the broadcasts encourage the public to follow our advice, to wash their hands more regularly and wear masks.

“If we can ensure people return to work and children return to school healthy, we will be satisfied.”

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