The Consortium for the Advancement of Rights for Key Populations (CARKAP) on Friday, April 1, 2022, conducted a day workshop for journalists on the universal health coverage.
The training which was held in Freetown was attended by journalists from both the print and electronic media.
The Programme Manager of CARKAP, Harry Ben Alpha said that the training was made possible through funding from the Global Funds to respond to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malaria in the country.
He noted that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) are the principal recipients of the fund.
He disclosed that CARKAP is receiving funding through CRS to undertake advocacy on the universal health coverage.
He disclosed that, as the health summit will be coming up this month, advocacy would enable stakeholders understand universal health coverage to effectively address it thematic areas during the summit.
He said that the purpose of the workshop is to raise awareness and capacitate journalists about the universal health coverage, so that they could hold government accountable.
He pointed out that the media engagement is part of the drive to achieving universal health coverage.
He said that it is a long journey to achieve the universal health coverage, noting that it will not be achieved in a single day. “Our target is 2030,” he said.
“When you look at the three pillars of universal health coverage, that is, health financing, service delivery and governance, you can confirm that they are gearing towards achieving global health for vulnerable people.”
He added that if the three pillars are prioritized, then it will reduce the heavy burden from community people paying for healthcare.
He disclosed that they have proposed similar engagement with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the regions so that they too could lead the advocacy in their respective communities.
In his presentation, a media expert from the Department of Mass Communication, Fourah Bay College (FBC), Dr Tonya Musa explained that the universal health coverage is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the world is striving to achieve in 2030.
He added that universal health coverage is basically about ensuring that healthcare facilities are being provided in all communities. “For them, one of the principles relating to universal health coverage is inclusion. Meaning, when you take demographic analysis, it should cater for the young, elderly, rice, poor, those in the urban areas, and those in the rural areas,” he said.
He pointed out that as a journalist, they are very important in achieving any of the SDGs. “On one front, we do reportage, meaning, we do news reporting and also support advocacy,” he said, explaining that journalists should not only focus on reporting, but they should also cultivate the spirit of advocacy. He emphasized that the critical things relating to universal health coverage is policy formulation that could enhance the principles of inclusion, accountability and equity, stating that in achieving these principles, journalists should ensure that the voices of the voiceless are heard.
By Stephen V. Lansana