The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged Journalists to remain responsible in reporting on public health emergency situations.
Dr Kwodow Asante-Afari, the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer, WHO, Ghana Office, said the media ought to adhere to and respect protocols in order not to spread misinformation or disinformation during health emergency situations.
He was speaking at the opening session of a day’s training workshop on building the capacity of the media to enable them to present accurate information on public health emergencies held at Abesim, near Sunyani.
The WHO in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) organised the training which is the second phase of the media training on the Strengthening and Utilising Responsive Group Emergencies (SURGE) and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).
It was attended by journalists and media practitioners drawn from Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions.
Dr Asante-Afari indicated that a strengthened collaboration was required between the media and the GHS so that the latter would be guided in churning out stories and information whenever there was a health emergency situation in the country.
By doing so, the media would be guarded against spreading misinformation, mal-information and disinformation and thereby cause public fear and panic.
In a highlight, Ms Bernice Konadu, the Bono Regional Surveillance Officer of the GHS urged the media to endeavour to cross check or verify their information on health issues before going to the press.
She said fact-checking remained essential in modern health journalism and also endeavoured to seek expert views to balance their reports.
Mr Joel Abekuliya, a Health Promotion Officer at the GHS headquarters in Accra, took the participants through risk communication and called for effective collaboration between the media and the GHS in responding to health emergency situations.
He asked the media to remain as change agents in helping to stem the spread of misinformation and disinformation, saying “if one is able to communicate well it reduces the burdens and cost of tackling health emergency situations”.
Mr Abekuliya explained that risk communication and community engagements remained relevant hence the need for the media to be proactive in that regard.
GNA
