Gambian journalists including reporters and editors are expected to take part in a Covid-19 reporting training.

The UNDP funded project will be spearheaded by Gambia’s Ministry of Health in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO) and Gambia Press Union.

And the participants, most of them Health reporters, are drawn from newspapers, online, radio and television stations. 

It’s will be a virtual online training that will be conducted through Zoom next week.

The Health ministry’s Directorate of Health Promotion said the objective of the “training is to empower media professionals in COVID-19 prevention measures and to deliver effective risk communication and community engagement responses.

“To update journalists, news editors and reporters to address COVID-19 operations and challenges.

“To increase knowledge and skills of journalists, news editors and reporters on COVID-19 in general and in risk communication and community engagement in particular,” the statement added.

According to the statement, it is expected to increase knowledge and skills of journalists in health reporting and strengthen the role of media in combatting COVID-19 in the Gambia.

The trainees will also be trained on how to identify risk communication, community engagement and other implementation gaps and challenges in response to COVID-19 and develop the necessary remedial measures.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba