THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) is holding a five days media training on immunisations and outbreaks in Domboshawa with the aim of capacitating health Journalists with the requisite information and knowledge around some of the interventions government is doing to address public health emergencies.
By Michael Gwarisa
The training is being attended by more than 25 Journalists and officials from the ministry of health Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) program.
Giving opening remarks during the opening day of the workshop, MoHCC Director Nursing Services, Mrs Nyaradzai Chiwara who was standing in for Dr Max Hove, the Curative Services Director in the ministry of health said the media was a key stakeholder in sharing information about current emergencies and the response measures by government.
This workshop is the first of its kind and we hope to continue to have more opportunities to interact and share current developments in the health sector for mutual benefit.
“Without strategic media engagement the Ministry may not be able to fulfill its mandate of equitably delivering quality health services to the people of Zimbabwe especially with regards to information dissemination. We are therefore stronger together and pulling in one direction. May I urge all of us here to actively participate in the activities lined up for this training so that we achieve our common purpose of improving the quality of life of Zimbabweans,” said Mrs Chiwara.
The ministry of health is currently conducting numerous immunization programs for diseases such as COVID-19, Measles, Polio, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and other diseases.
Meanwhile, Mr Norman Dzirambi, the Health Promotion Manager-EPI Ministry of Health and Child Care said the week-long training will also improve collaboration between media and the ministry of health.
“One of our objectives is sensitise Journalists on the current outreaches and response measures we are taking as the ministry of health to respond to outbreaks and diseases.”
The media training will also see Journalists going for filed visits in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central so as to get an appreciation of some of the work the ministry is doing to respond to health emergencies.
