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The World Health Organization (WHO) country representative in The Gambia, Dr. Thomas Sukwa has saluted Gambian Journalists for their giant strides in covering health issues. He said that the WHO Country Office has been closely monitoring the activities of the media in The Gambia in relation to health issues since the establishment of the Association of Health Journalists, The Gambia (AHJG) in 2001. He made this remark yesterday at the official opening ceremony of a seminar organized by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) as part of activities commemorating 2010 World Malaria Day. The seminar was held at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) conference room. He described AHJG as the baby of the WHO and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
According to him, since the establishment of the association, they have witnessed laudable improvements in the coverage of health issues including malaria in the Gambian media. He added that however there is always room for improvement as malaria and other pressing communicable and non-communicable diseases continue to pose public health threats to the Gambian population. He reminded journalists that the traditional role of the media, which is to inform and entertain, should be fully exploited in packaging and disseminating information on malaria. He said that scientific evidence generated over the years on the various aspects of malaria is enormous adding that this information, very often, does not reach lay people who need it most to protect themselves from the scourge of malaria. He noted that an important role of the media is therefore to help disseminate this scientific information in a language people can understand, enjoy and translate into tangible actions at community and household levels.
He said that to do this effectively, journalists most educate themselves about malaria, read about malaria and ask experts to improve their knowledge and clear their doubts, engage health professionals and malaria experts as frequently as possible, use their skills to package malaria information in simple and comprehensible language for action at household level, to always put malaria on the public agenda by conducting periodic interviews, press briefings, writing feature articles and dedicating columns and programmes to malaria prevention and control and also to be active partners in the planning and implementation of World Malaria Day.
He said that the role of the media in malaria prevention and control is essential and critical to consolidate the gains already made in this beautiful country, The Gambia. He argued that the media can also help in mobilizing resources and communities to implement cost-effective interventions, and set the agenda for unified action against malaria. He assured the media that they as WHO their doors are always open to dialogue and partnership with the media as together they can eliminate malaria in The Gambia. He commended AMMREN, The Gambia Chapter for organizing this event and for inviting the WHO office, describing it as a positive development as the global coalition against malaria is being spearheaded by the WHO strives not only to strengthen but expand global partnership for malaria prevention and control. He further commended AMMREN among other institutions and organizations for utilizing their own resources in making the day a memorable one.
Alhagi Omar Taal, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, who deputized his minister, Dr. Abubacarr Gaye, also commended AMMREN. He said that the body was formed in November, 2006 by journalists and scientists working in quest to reduce the burden of malaria which is endemic in most parts of Africa and the number one killer of children under five.
He said that the government of The Gambia therefore relies on effective journalism to sensitize the public on health issues, policies and programmes and looks forward to the partnership between the government and the press. “I must state that this relationship has been very cordial with the Health sector and we commend the Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance (MCTA) who in 2006 in Accra, Ghana, organized a workshop which resulted in the formation of AMMREN. Pa Modou Faal, AMMREN country coordinator also spoke at the event.
