ABUJA: The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has concluded a three-day intensive Refresher Workshop for Health reporters as well as community journalist across Africa.
The training brought together participants from across the Western, Southern, Eastern and Central African regions under the counsel of three facilitators along with other officials of the Africa CDC of the Nigeria Centre for Disease, as well as other partners.
Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Modou Njai, proxy for Dr. Herilinda Tamba, Africa CDC Western Region Coordinator, stated that the initiative by the Africa CDC is intended to enhance the capacity of health reporters in the discharge of their reportorial duties across the continent.
He added that the workshop is also aimed at improving the existing relationship between the Africa CDC and the media amidst the declaration by the World Health Organization that the Coronavirus disease is no longer a health emergency in the world.
Dr. Njai called on the participants to use the training as a conduit in the integration of Coronavirus messages into routine immunization messages for the benefit of the African Continent and the world at-large.
He extolled the Africa CDC, the Nigerian CDC, participants as well as partners that worked collaboratively in making the event a reality.
For his part, Dr. Yahya Disu, the Representative of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and also a facilitator of the workshop, evaluated the event as being interactive, experience-sharing and also a learning-curve for attendees which, according to him, will subsequently impact the scope of work for all.
Dr. Disu highlighted the importance of implementing the “New Africa Public Health Order,” citing that the adherence of African Heads of State will ensure that the objectives of the document is achieved.
The Nigeria CDC official underscored the commitment of health reporters across the continent as key to the realization of the five pillars of the Africa Health Document.
However, he called on the media community across the continent to sustain their role in ensuring accountability and transparency in the health sector of Africa.
The Nigerian health expert also called on Africans, irrespective of their professions, to collaborate aimed at ensuring a safer Africa.
“A threat anywhere is a threat everywhere” and that when Africans work collaboratively, they can solve their problems together and achieve their goals,” the Nigerian medical expert stressed.
Also, the Communication Officer of the Africa CDC, Mr. Nekerwon Gweh, emphasized that the Refresher Workshop was intended to increase visibility and understanding of the Africa CDC and its mandate amongst the media.
Mr. Gweh, who also served as one of the facilitators, added that the media initiative by the organization is geared towards bringing the Africa CDC closer to the African population through awareness about its work in safeguarding Africa health, using a regional approach.
The Africa CDC official called on health reporters as well as community journalists to integrate the lesson learnt and the experiences gathered during the fight against the coronavirus disease to do routine immunization campaigns across the continent.
He highlighted the foundation of the Africa CDC which, according to him, goes as far back as 2013, with the organization gaining its full scale mandate as an autonomous institution in 2017 when it was launched officially as the Africa Center for Disease Control.
The Africa CDC Communication Officer urged health reporters to consider using the Africa New Health Order and the Agenda 2063 which are all health milestone documents to critique African leaders.
For her part, Madame Vera Okey called on participants to use the knowledge gained to elevate health challenges the general public is faced with on the African continent as a means of finding an amicable solution to those problems.
Madam Okey, who served as one of the facilitators, encouraged health reporters to consider the interest of the general public in the discharge of their duties for the betterment of their respective countries health sectors.
Meanwhile, Mafugi Cessay, one of the participants, indicated that the training will serve as a boost for health reporters throughout the length and breadth of the African continent.
He maintained that the training has provided health reporters and community journalists the understanding of managing information during an outbreak which include addressing misinformation and disinformation.
The Africa CDC three-day Refresher Workshop beneficiary revealed that the health reporters training initiative helped to expose journalists to the Africa New Public Health Order and the Agenda 2063 pillar three which talks about healthier and safer Africa.
The training brought together 16 participants from 12 African countries across the Western, Southern, Eastern and Central African regions. Courtesy: LINA
