AMREF to train journalists

Amref Health Africa is set to start offering a tailor made health reporting training for journalists in Africa.

Through the Amref International University (AMIU), the program is a way of empowering journalists, according to the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Marion Mutugi.

“The program, starting this September will be two weeks intensive with a project at the end for us to gauge the journalist’s application of the knowledge and information gathered during the class session. Through journalism, we have seen a number of policies change and an increase in awareness creation in different parts of Africa,” she said.

The professor is upbeat that the unique course, a first of its kind, gives journalists, mid-level media practitioners, editors and communications specialists’ greater familiarity with public health and access to a wide range of sources and scientific resources.

“We recognize that journalism is an important area and journalists are important partners as they don’t just inform but influence. We believe what we want to offer, is necessary and important to people. We will start with the certificate program and soon we will go into post graduate programs.

“Journalism is a medium and what we really want is to give the content in terms of health reporting as part of the universal health coverage. As such, we will unlock the health sector, global health, medical research, health polices, sexual reproductive and health, medical legal issues among the main aspects of health,” said Prof Mutugi.

At the core of the short-courses for is a dream to support the conveyance of health news in clear, meaningful, understandable, accurate, complete, balanced and news actionable to readers,  viewers and listeners across various media platforms.

Amref Health Africa Media Network Malawi chapter, president Joseph Mazizi has welcomed the development saying the course will respond to some gaps in health reporting in Africa.

“With the constantly evolving news world, skill-based programs for journalists are an essential vehicle for them to gain new abilities, content knowledge and sources. Obviously, the course will provide learners with a set of skills and competencies to research and analyse health-related materials for reliability, thereby improving the accuracy in reporting,” he said.

The Amref International University (AMIU) is an accredited institution of higher learning focused on training in health sciences and is fully owned by Amref Health Africa.