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| | 26 June, 2006 |
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 | | "We already have 1000 dollars donated to our "United Sickle Cell Fund" with more on the way..." |
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Listserv member, Lukiah Mulumba, along with her husband (both left), continue to support efforts to improve conditions for Ugandan Sickle Cell sufferers. You can get more details in Lukiah's email included in this update along with a report on a TB course for journalists in the Gambia submitted by Ebrima Jaw Manneh.
What do you think makes for good health reporting: more money.. more knowledge? More of your survey comments featured.
How about helping out a radio station in Madagascar? ...perhaps a biotechnology workshop in New Delhi is what you are looking for? More details on these and other topics of interest including Haden's Diary: a candid journal of an HIV+ journalist now featured on the Health and Media website and originating from PlusNews.
And finally, we would like to welcome new listserv member, Saiful Islam, the President and CEO of the Center for Social Communication (CSC) - a not-for-profit oganisation providing communication solutions in relation to development for government, NGOs, private and corporate bodies in Bangladesh. Colin Lloyd, Moderator, South Africa |
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| 1. Contributions |
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| >> member emails |
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| + More news from "Lucky" and the "United Sickle Cell Fund" |
| From: Lucky Lukiah Mulumba, Registered Nurse, Texas, USA |
Recently, we received a positive response and a promise of donations after speaking to a group of concerned women about the support needed for those with Sickle Cell disease in Uganda.
We pointed out the emergency needs for the sicklers in Uganda, including access to mosquito nets, workshops, medicine, food, education, patient transportation, and the necessity for the for the development and of a new clinic.
So far, 1000 dollars has already been donated to our newly formed "United Sickle Cell Fund" with more on the way.
We have many other plans to bring attention this cause, including a meeting with the US Air Force medical personnel, and a presentation to a women's conference made up of senators, doctors, nurses, military, etc.
We deeply thank Colin for the connection, and Ruth /Pius for keeping us updated.... and, thank you all for your support.
Feel free to e-mail me with any questions and/or comments
Peace, Lukiah. |
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| + More training for the Pacific Islands? |
| From: Ednal Palmer, radio news editor, Solomon Islands |
| I'm still doing fine here in the Solomon Islands - and I'm sooo glad to be updated with your stuff on health and media. Also, please let me know if there are any further training opportunities coming up. |
| -- nothing yet, but I'll let you know if anything comes up - Colin |
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 Le Cameroun pour une formation des cardres pour lutter contre le paludisme |
| From: Guy Martial Youmeni, radio journalist, Yaounde, Cameroon |
| Depuis hier le 21-06-06 se deroule a yaoundé un atelier de quatre jours à l'intension des Medecins et autre cadre pour leur transmettre des connaissances necéssaires afin qu'a leur tour qu'ils assurent la formation des prestataires.Ceci pour ameliorer la prise en charge du paludeen.Des nouvelles strategies sont ainsi mis en oeuvre pour arrimer le Cameroun aux nouvelles trouvaillent theurapedique contre le paludisme.Pendant ce temps a quelque 350 km a l'ouest du pays, plus precissement à Bafoussam se deroule un autre atelier similaire pour former les infirmiers et autres auxilliaires à l'impreignation des moustisquaires et la prise en charge des patients meme dans les quartiers. |
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| + TB reporting course trains Gambian journalists |
| From: Ebrima Jaw Manneh, journalist, Banjul, Gambia |
At least 40 Gambian journalists from the print and the electronic media, last week, completed a five week, Global Fund sponsored, training course on the prevention and control of Tuberculosis, last week.
Organised by the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Unit of the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, and the Association of Health Journalists, the training covered epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, along with field visits to the TB units at the Serrekunda Health Centre and the Brikama Health Centre.
At the workshop's closing statement, Saihou Janneh, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Health, said TB is one of the most formidable pathogen confronting modern medicine. While pointed out that that TB drugs are provided free of charge to Gambian citizens, he warned that the treatment must be followed through in order to prevent a drug resistance. He also implored journalists to make their stories both clear and accurate.
“Stories should be be surrounded by ambiguities. The information should be precise and simple,” he said.
Gambian Press Union President, Madi Ceesay, challenged the trained journalists to improve general awareness of TB amongst the general population and cited accuracy in facts as a vital component, while Adama Jallow, Manager of the NLTP, commended the journalists for their determination to complete the five week-long training.
While warning journalists against sensationalising their health reports, Alhaji Shereign Faye, Manager of GRTS Radio, and Vice President of Association of Health Journalists, also urged journalists to lobby the government for more resources in the health sector.
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| >> survey results |
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| When asked "what makes good health reporting?", here is what some of you wrote: |
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| "The will and determination of the reporter" |
| - Cameroon |
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| "Correct and accurate sourcing of information, and timely dissemination." |
| - Kenya |
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| "Focusing on issues relevant to the community while integrating national and global angles and perspectives." |
| - Swaziland |
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| "Better pay for health reporting" |
| - Uganda |
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| "Good reporting provokes positive behavioral change on its intended audience (reader, listener or viewer)." |
| - Zambia |
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| "Using language that is easy to understand by your average reader" |
| - Bangladesh |
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| "A good relationship between reporters and his/her information sources" |
| - Tanzania |
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| "The ability to explain complex information in a clear, interesting and informative manner" |
| Hong Kong, China |
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| "Understanding the terms and being able to interpret the information so that your audience can relate" |
| - Solomon Islands |
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| 2. Health News |
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| + Kenyan Teen's Death Exposes Gaps in HIV/AIDS Support Network |
| A 14-year-old who was infected with the virus and orphaned by the disease was brutally beaten by an uncle who struggled to care for him. Some blame not the killer, but an inadequate community of care. |
| more details |
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| + "Get your act together": Zim Commemorates Africa Malaria Day |
| Zimbabwe joined the rest of the Africa in commemorating a belated Africa Malaria Day in Mt Darwin last week. The theme for this year's commemoration is; "Get your Act together: Universal access to effective malaria treatment is a human right". |
| more: http://allafrica.com/stories/200606230362.html |
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| + Malaria: study claims many families don't use their bed-nets |
| Providing families in malaria-endemic regions with insecticide-treated nets is not enough to prevent the disease, according to research published in the June issue of Tropical Medicine and International Health. |
| More on Global Health Reporting website |
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| 3. Opportunities |
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| + Radio volunteers needed in Madagascar |
We are looking for volunteers to come to Madagascar this August to help build a low-power FM radio station. The station will be based in the rural community of Antsaravibe, in Northern Madagascar.
The station will be run by a local community organisation which works to: improve the community, provide education on human rights, encourage environmental protection, improve community health, promote civic education, and fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS. Experience of community radio, LPFM transmission systems, and audio production/broadcasting, would be useful. Knowledge of French would also be useful, but not essential |
| For more information: www.radioactive.org.uk |
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| + Science writers get biotechnology workshop in India |
Interested journalists can apply for this upcoming workshop in New Delhi - scheduled for July 5 and 6. The workshop will focus on safety in biotechnology. Sessions will explore the concerns about genetically modified organisms, and ways that scientists are working to minimize the possible risks of biotechnology. Application deadline: June 30.
More information on the International Journalist's Network website: |
| http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=305151&LID=1 |
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| 4. Journal: Haden's Dairy |
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| + Diary of an HIV positive journalist |
"Of all the negative things I've come to associate with my father never having been a good parent, my HIV-positive status always took the lead.
This is not surprising, especially with research reminding me of the power that fathers could have in educating their children about issues on violence, drugs, sex and HIV/AIDS." |
| Read Haden's Diary as featured on the PlusNews website: |
| http://www.plusnews.org/HDiaryEntry.asp |
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| 5. Resources |
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| + Factsheet - Maternal Health [PDF] |
| Every year more than 500,000 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth; all but 2500 of these deaths occur in developing countries. The chances of suffering a maternal death over a woman's lifetime are as high as 1 in 16 in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal death is the leading cause of death for girls between the ages of 15 to 19 in the developing world - they are twice as likely to die in childbirth as women in their twenties. Every minute 190 women face unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. Every year 20 million risk unsafe abortion and 70,000 die from complications of unsafe abortion. 200 million women have an unmet need for safe, effective contraceptive services. |
| Download pdf file |
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| + Health Journalism Partnership pilot launches website |
| The Health Journalism Partnership (HJP) has launched a website. Devoted to health journalism training and support, it brings together health journalism resources, training opportunities, analysis, distinguished health reporting and a global online “map” of journalism training and support organisations. |
| www.healthjournalism.net |
