Reporting for a Better Future in Rwanda
Building professional media for health in Rwanda
Context and Issue:
Most illness and death in Rwanda is caused by communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, infectious diseases of childhood and HIV/AIDS. Ninety per cent of the death of children under five years of age in Rwanda is caused by preventable diseases. Malnutrition continues to be a significant issue while population density and high fertility rates make family planning a priority issue as well. In rural areas, the attendance of people needing primary care services at public health centres remains problematically low. One reason for this is lack of information. The media can address many of these issues as it informs populations, sets an agenda and holds governments accountable through investigative reporting. More than half of the population in Rwanda listens to the radio and the younger generation is increasingly making use of the Internet. Any type of information prepared by good journalists and passed on via these communication channels is likely to have a significant impact on knowledge and perceptions regarding diseases and disease control. Nationwide, widespread radio coverage and a strong national Internet network present a unique opportunity to improve and strengthen this impact.
Project's activities:
The project sought to strengthen the skills of the local media journalists reporting on health issues. It aimed to increase health awareness and health-seeking behaviours in the Rwandan population by: - the creation of a Media Resource Centre in which journalists can access up to date information on health issues, receive editorial and production mentoring, and produce their shows - training 60 journalists from print and radio media, public and private outlets - providing advanced training for the best journalists - sensitising about 20 chief editors, heads of programmes, managers and owners of various media outlets on the importance of offering space to journalists for covering health topics - training about 30 communication staff from the Ministry of Health and the network of Health Centres in effective media relations to enable them to develop constructive media relations so that their issues are adequately represented in the media - producing five documentary videos on key health issues - screening health videos with health experts for an estimated direct audience of at least 8,000 people in all provinces of the country
Participants and Beneficiaries:
The participants and beneficiaries of the project included Rwandan print, radio and online journalists, editors and media managers; stakeholders from the health sector in Rwanda; the Rwandan population from remote urban and rural areas, including vulnerable and at risk groups such as orphans, widows, people living with AIDS, indigenous people, etc.; and decision-makers at the local and national level.
Outcomes:
The project resulted in 4.3 million people receiving informative, engaging media coverage of issues vital to their health. Sixty journalists (30 radio journalists, 20 print journalists and 10 online journalists) are now capable of accurate, non-stigmatising reporting on a range of issues related to health. The objectives were : -To sensitise media managers on the importance of good health reporting and professional health news, the project created an environment that facilitates access to reliable information and the creation of a cadre of reporters with specialised health knowledge. - To enable health workers and government health officials to develop effective media relations so that their issues are adequately represented in the media, the project facilitates information exchange that will educate the general population on key health issues. - The project also seeked to increase the capacity of the ABASIRWA (Abanyamakuru Barwanya AIDS mu Rwanda, a journalists' umbrella organisation) and to mobilise its membership to report on HIV/AIDS and thereby promote civil society advocacy on these issues.
"This is the first time I can tell I'm doing my work in a professional way."
Participant to the training
"Now I know how to write a story and to make the difference between real facts and my opinion."
Participant to the training
