Media, a powerful tool in addressing health, infertility stigma, GBV issues

Michael Magoronga, [email protected]

JOURNALISTS have been challenged to play a leading role in breaking infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence (GBV) and ending child marriage issues among other social ills, through objective reporting.

The clarion call came during a Health Media Training which is running alongside the Merck Foundation Africa Luminary 2024 edition in Tanzania.

Health Media Training aims to create a culture shift by raising awareness about social and health issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending child marriage, stopping GBV and raising awareness about early detection and prevention of Diabetes & Hypertension and is being attended by journalist from more than 20 African countries.

The training is addressed by fertility experts and eminent media personalities from African countries among them Zimbabwe Editors’ Forum Director, Njabulo Ncube.

Presenting the role of the media in community awareness, Ncube said the media can serve as a creative and honest tool to address sensitive and critical social and health issues.

“I want to challenge the African Media to do more in this respect for it to be an effective and honest tool. I yearn for a time in my life where the health story, for instance addressing the stigma around fertility, competes for prime viewing and front page with the political story,” said Ncube.

He challenged journalists to be creative through storytelling since personal narratives can humanise issues making them relatable.

“Our media needs interactive content, humour and satire, inclusive representation where it ensures diverse voices and experiences are representative to reflect the complexity of health issues. By adopting some of these creative strategies, the African media can effectively engage audiences and promote understanding around sensitive health issues such as GBV, infertility, diabetes, and genital mutilation among other issues,” said Ncube.

Mauritian Medical and Health expert, Dr Janita Neermul Bhujun encouraged the media to promote self-actualisation and raise awareness on legal matters and mental health issues.

“The media should raise awareness on where to get help in case of mental harassment and above all, legal implications of certain actions. The media should educate the population on what to do when in certain situations,” she said.

The media training was preceded by a “More than a Mother” ambassadors conference attended by 15 First Ladies from African and Asian countries which Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa was part of.

 

It reminds the media that it plays a significant role in influencing society and communities to create a cultural shift. The media has the capacity and the ability to break the stigma around infertility in the community.

It provides a great opportunity for the journalists to meet the experts network with each other and work as a unit to eradicate the stigma around infertility and achieve campaign goals.

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