"Thank god, I've filled in the form!" |
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...that was the message I received from a listserv member who was initially having a bit of trouble with the web version of the survey - - he kept at it and was thankful he could contribute... with two more forms received this morning, I now have 50 completed surveys. Although, I am going to take a closer look at the results in the next few days, I'll highlight some of your comments in this update. |
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You may remember Lucky Mulumba, the Ugandan nurse (living with her family in the US) who came across Ugandan journalist Pius Sawa Murefu's article on the Health and Media website... the article exposes the neglect of those suffering from Sickle Cell Disease in Uganda. Well, Lucky has now mobilised the support of friends and family members and has now created the, "United Sickle Cell Fund". Lucky has sent us an email with the details (below). Dental hygiene and HIV... what is the link? Read on and find out. I would also like to welcome Farooq Muhammed Farooq, our newest listserv member - Farooq is a sub-editor at the Daily Times in Pakistan... take care, Colin Lloyd, Health and Media listserv |
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1. Contributions |
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>> health reporting survey |
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| I have featured a few of your comments to a couple of the questions in the Health reporting survey. More will be featured in the next issue: |
| Most of you say that there is not enough health journalism in your country - some say that this is because... |
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| "Most media organizations give politics and business news precedence over health issues", and ..."Many journalists rely only on press releases and ministerial statements." (Kenya) "In Swaziland there are only two main newspapers one of which runs a health page in its Saturday edition but is normally filled with news downloaded from the internet with no real relevance to local health concerns." "There are many health issues which remain unreported such rural health, reproductive health, occupational health..." (India) "Most journalists in Zambia have no keen interest in taking up health reporting because of the jargon associated with it." "Tanzania lacks transparency in government - so it becomes difficult for journalists to disseminate accurate health information." "Many editors still only regard scare stories as important health news" (Hong Kong, China) "In Uganda we have very few journalists venturing into health reporting partly because of the lack of training in this area . There also seems to be little interaction and understanding between scientists and journalists." |
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| What is holding you back from improving your health reporting? Here are a few selected comments... |
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| "Lack of correct and up-to-date health statistics (local). Also, getting information from health care providers and policy makers is very difficult. Most have the belief that if they talk to the media, they may lose their job especially when they say something that those not please their seniors. Lack of reporting kits, and a lack of proper resources are also some problems hindering the quantity and quality of health journalism here in The Gambia." |
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| "Most journalists lack specialised training in health reporting and in turn they fail to interpret matters in a simpler way for the audience. It is not like in financial and economic reporting where institutions like Reuters Foundation offer business writing training for journalists with keen interest in specializing in business reporting. At the end of the training programme, participants are given a glossary of major jargons that are often used in economic and financial writing. If such programmes were offered to health reporters then it would be easy for them to report health matters more effectively." (Zambia) |
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| "At our station I had developed passion for reporting on HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB but now some of us at our station, including myself, have been moved from reporting on health issues to reporting on other non-health related issues. This can be demoralising" (Botswana) |
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| "Medical practitioners appear to distrust journalists with information. There seems to be a deep seated suspicion between the two professions." (Tanzania) |
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| "There is no support for health training programs. In addition, our media leaders are not encouraging or supportive." (Democratic Republic of Congo) |
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| More survey results in the next update including what makes for good health reporting |
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| >> emails |
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| + The "United Sickle Cell Fund" is underway |
| From: Lukiah Lucky Mulumba, Nurse, USAF, San Antonio, Texas, USA. |
Hi every one... Sorry for the silence. It has been very hectic here. My husband officially completed his nursing exams. He is now free!! I my self have been very busy with work. I have been working long 12 - 15 hours days. Plus managing my graduate school work demands.
We received the required EIN number last week from the Federal Government of America. This authorizes us to continue getting donations. Our organization has been registered a, "The Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Fund"We have arranged an event on June 10th at 1330, San Antonio, Texas to raise awareness. At this time, we will be introduced to the media (Radio), church, retired military personnel, active and retired nurses. We will send in our request for donation to San Antonio radio for the sickle cell clinic in Uganda, it is is usually a wish done around summer time, and the donation is made available around Christmas time.
PLAN:
1. We are recruiting professional people from some States to be on our Board per Texas Law.
2. We will soon have a web site in place.
3. Fund telephone, fax, and bank A/C number, material etc.
4. We will try to attend the huge Sickle cell convention in Chicago September this year.
At the moment, we are using our income to make all this happen. We will see if we can sponsor those two to attend. This is a very educative convention about sickle cell in general, I am sure it will be beneficial to our clinic as a whole in Uganda. We are trying to find ways to sponsor those two on our own.
Guys, for any questions, do not hesitate to e-mail us. We want to do things the correct way. It is a lot of work but the Good Lord will get us there! Peace to you all. |
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| + Conference in Uganda defines importance of oral health |
| From: Pius Sawa Murefu, Kampala, Uganda |
| "Oral health in the developing world is at its worst", says Dr. Shewine Shinne, president of Smile Foundation in the US, who was speaking at a health conference in Uganda recently. He also pointed out that there is now a need for dentists in these areas to be equipped with more knowledge and skills. |
| read whole article: www.healthandmedia.org/contribute12.html |
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2. Health News |
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| + Journalists set example by volunteering for HIV test |
A group of Botswana journalists have committed to get tested for HIV by the end of June 2006. The journalists were participants in a training program called Maisha Yetu, which means "our lives" in Swahili.
Several media outlets in Botswana, Kenya and Senegal are currently participating in the program. In Botswana, they include the privately owned Mmegi newspaper and its sister publication the Mmegi Monitor, as well as the state-run Radio Botswana and Botswana TV.
At the Maisha Yetu workshops, the journalists also get to interact with people infected with HIV. The idea is to overcome social stigma, and help the journalists understand what it means to live with HIV.
(source: The International Journalists Network: www.ijnet.org) |
| more at: www.iwmf.org/africa/programs.php#maishayet |
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+ Some Countries Lack Resources to Fully Track Bird Flu Cases |
A number of countries in the throes of serious bird flu outbreaks are underreporting the extent of the problem, generally because they do not have the money, veterinary expertise or health systems to track the disease adequately in animals. |
more information |
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+ Antiretroviral drugs for all? |
| Despite a renewed focus on expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment and care, millions of people are still without. This report helps journalists to initiate debate around access to treatment issues, and provides key questions to probe the realities of antiretroviral drug provision in their own communities. |
www.panosaids.org/files/arvsforall.pdf |
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+ PanAfrica: President's Malaria Plan Expanded After Recent Success |
| A U.S. program to reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in targeted African countries by 2010 will be expanded to include Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal, first lady Laura Bush announced June 8 at a Washington event sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). |
| more: http://allafrica.com/stories/200606090091.html |
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| 3. Opportunities |
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| + WFP Award for Humanitarian Journalism |
| Offered by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the WFP Award for Humanitarian Journalism aims to recognise journalists' efforts to deliver consistent, in-depth coverage of humanitarian issues relating to people and communities affected by poverty, food insecurity and HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. Deadline: November 7, 2006 |
| more: www.comminit.com/awards2006/awards2006/awards-1414.html |
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| + Fellowship programme for Asian and Pacific Journalists |
Experienced Asian and Pacific journalists can apply for a fellowship program focusing on population issues in the region. The program includes visits to Hawaii, India, Japan and Thailand. Application deadline: June 21.The Jefferson Fellowships, organized by the East-West Center in Honolulu, are open to both Asian and U.S. journalists. Print and broadcast journalists with at least five years of experience are eligible. For more information or to apply, contact seminars@eastwestcenter.org
telephone +1-808-944-7384, or fax +1-808-944-7600. |
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