Kampala, Uganda – Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Uganda, addressed a virtual Zoom meeting on Wednesday, emphasizing the crucial role of health journalism and health communication in enhancing health service delivery in Uganda.
The theme of the meeting was “The Role of Health Journalism and Health Communication in Health Service Delivery in Uganda.”
The meeting, which brought together journalists, healthcare professionals, and government officials, aimed to foster collaboration and understanding between the media and the healthcare sector to improve the quality and accuracy of health reporting in the country.
In her address, Dr. Atwine stressed the need for journalists to exhibit professionalism in their work. She acknowledged that health journalism plays a pivotal role in disseminating vital information to the public, especially in a time when accurate health reporting is paramount. She highlighted that accurate health reporting not only ensures that the public is well-informed but also helps in building trust between the healthcare sector and the media.
“When you write a negative story, for example, on vaccination, and we continue to get deaths, who is responsible for that? We all have a duty to inform accurately,” Dr Atwine said.
She further emphasized the importance of accurate and timely reporting during public health crises, as it could save lives and prevent panic and confusion. Dr. Atwine commended the media for their pivotal role in disseminating information during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also urged them to remain committed to accuracy and responsible reporting.
During the meeting, participants engaged in discussions on best practices for health journalism, the importance of fact-checking, and the significance of providing balanced and evidence-based information to the public. Dr. Atwine also urged journalists to consult healthcare professionals and experts to ensure that the information they report is accurate and helpful to the public.
The meeting concluded with a call for ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the media to improve health reporting in Uganda, with the goal of better health service delivery and improved health outcomes for the country’s citizens.
In a world where health information is more accessible than ever, Dr. Atwine’s address underscored the vital role that journalists play in ensuring that the public receives accurate, reliable, and balanced information about health matters. As Uganda strives to enhance its health service delivery, a commitment to professionalism in health journalism will undoubtedly play a significant part in achieving this goal.