AOHJ Pays Courtesy Call To Heath Directorate

 

Team Outpost

A delegation from the Association of Health Journalists (AoHJ), led by its president Sally Jarju, paid a courtesy call to the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education, DHPE, on Tuesday, January 2nd 2024, at the Directorates Office at the Medical Drug Store office in Kotu.

The visit was to introduce the AoHJ 2024 activity plans and the areas it deemed necessary to collaborate and, DHPE, interventions.  

Michael Manga Mendy, the Director at Health Promoting and Education, commended AoHJ in their recently concluded and successful elective congress.

“Congratulations will not be limited to you (AoHJ). We have to congratulate the Health Promotion Directorate and the Ministry of Health (MoH), for accepting this opportunity that we have been thinking of. I can remember one year ago your absence was felt. This was in December last year when we needed your participation and we came to realise that there were lapses here and there. I am delighted to receive you and I will inform the minister I am sure he will be very happy to receive this great news. I am happy to hear that your association has extended its membership across the length and breadth of the country. We (MoH), were enjoying weekly free airtime from all the Community radios across the country,”  said Mieheal Manga Mendy, Director of Health Promotion and Education.

On her part, Sally Jarju, the president of the Association of Health Journalists, AoHJ, was delighted to lead her executive to formally introduce them before the Health Promotion Officers.

“The Association of Health Journalists, AoHJ,  has key priorities which are limited but include the following, media training for our members many of whom are new in the health reporting sector,” she posited.

Madam Jarju, who secured a permanent seat under the Tabacco Control Act (TCA), encouraged its members to work hand in glove with the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education, DHPE, to take charge in the revamping and revitalization of some health columns and radio airtime in creating more awareness.

How Madam Jarju secured the permanent seat for herself. Under the Tabacco Control Act (TCA),?

 on page 9 - z stated that a representative from the Association of Health Journalists (aa) two representative from Civil Society who are - (i) engaged in tobacco control, and (ii) nominated in consultation with the Committe by a forum of organisations engaged in tobacco control. 

A Member Shall - (a) be nominated by the Permanent Secretaries or heads of the respective Ministries or Institutions, (b) not have any affiliation with the tobacco industry, and (c) not further the interests of tobacco industry or it's subsidiaries. 

Ousman A. Marong, the Secretary-General for the Association of Health Journalists (AoHJ), during his deliberation, told the Director of Health Promotion that this is an opportunity for them (DHPE), that they should not afford to lose. 

“I believe we have it all that we can not afford to lose. Not afford to lose in the sense I would say your institution which is the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education, DHPE, has the opportunity it should not lose. The opportunities are, that most of us are community radio managers and you are that information giver for our usual dissemination and we will do it accordingly. This is the opportunity I am talking about and it should be a win-win situation for the people working with people,”  he remarked.

Marong further suggested the creation of a website and a YouTube Channel to be handled and run by AoHJ members. He requests support from the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education in organizing an annual health reporting award.

He informed the Director that he had tasked one of its members to create a Facebook and a YouTube channel where would start publishing health and health-related issues.

Other speakers include Sheriff Saidykhan Assistant Secretary-General and Yushpha Bojang, the Public Relations Office (PRO), of the Association of Health Journalists, both echoed similar sentiments.

“We are more than willing to continue the partnership that exists between us (AoHJ), and, DHPE,”.

Mr. Bojanj stated that AOHJ has its members across the length and breadth of the country.

He mentioned names such as Sainey Dibba overseeing Farafenni and Jerreh Dibba responsible for Kerewan and Bakary Dampha of Soma community radio as assistant PRO overseeing Soma and beyond.