From Emmanuel S. Koffa | GNN Correspondent |Grand Kru County|
The Grand Kru County Health Team has concluded a day long intensive COVID 19 proficient message Broadcast and reporting capacity building training session with more than 12 Journalists from three local media Institutions the Voice of Grand Kru, the Voice of Grandcess and Radio Ahteenah.
The capacity building is been sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), it was held at the sliver key hotel over the weekend in Barclayville City.
The COVID 19 training is part of the Ministry of Health, and the County Health Team’s engagement aimed at advancing media workers to acquire knowledge on the basic information about COVID 19, and is a USAID-funded project that is designed to strengthen activities and promote accurate media dialogues which inform, educate and engage citizens in the fight against Coronavirus.
According to the Acting County Health Officer Jimmy Lawubah the capacity building training workshop is the first of its kind to trained Journalists since the outbreak of disease in March of this year and is aimed to empower journalists to positively report on COVID 19 in a way that can resonate with the Ministry of Health all citizens.
He said the media play a very key role in the day to day affairs of the country, realizing that it is highly impossible for health care providers to reach out to all the communities at the same time to create awareness on the virus to citizens, concerning important information about the disease and other diseases, but the media can fill the gap.
Mr. Lawubah indicated that it’s their hope that media personnel’s that benefited from training will buttress the effort of the county health team to provide education, fact-based, balanced, constructive and proficient message through research on COVID 19 during their regular broadcast hours to enhance citizens’ engagement in the fight against this global pandemic.
“We want you to give the information to our people in the simple Liberian language so that our people can understand what we are talking about, there are many people who don’t still believe that Corona virus is real, and Heath is everybody business, Ministry of Health along can’t fight this virus, but with the collective efforts from all citizens, can make us defeat this virus; Jimmy noted.
In special remarks, USAID Representative Moses Blamo appreciated the efforts of the participants for attending the training, he indicated that as partners they will work closely with the County Health Team to provide more training for media workers, “the journalist can speak to thousands of citizens at the same time because of the wide courage they cover, but it’s very difficult for health workers to reach out to thousands of community members at the same time, so it’s important to train media professionals about the basic Corona virus messages, frequently washing of hands, wearing of nose mask, and avoiding of large crowd this will prevent us from getting this virus.”
Speaking on behalf of the three radio stations, Voice of Grandcess Manager Shardrick Tarwily lauded the efforts of USAID Team and the County health Team for providing the opportunity for media workers, he said at the level of the media it is a privilege to get basic knowledge most especially during the Corona virus crisis.
He at the same time assured the County Health Team that what they have learned from the training will be provided to the public.
Meanwhile, the Press Union of Liberia Grand Kru County Coordinator James Myking Suah, shortly after the training session lauded the County Health Team and its collaborating partner USAID for the opportunities provided to media stakeholders within the county.
He assured the PUL commitment and promised that the Union will work with the three radio stations put to the knowledge acquired from the exercise into better use to fight against the killer disease in the county.
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