Health journalists participate in a training exercise during a Science Café on health reporting in Nairobi, February 9, 2024. Photo credit I Chemtai Kirui

Uphold accuracy in post-pandemic reporting for better public understanding, journalists told

by with 2 Comments Health
Members of MESHA take notes at a Science Café on health reporting, held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024.Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui
Members of MESHA take notes at a Science Café on health reporting, held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024. Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui

By Chemtai Kirui | phillykirui@gmail.com

Journalists have been urged to strengthen accuracy in post-pandemic reporting by relying on credible sources and contribute to a better-informed public.

The call was made during a media science café held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024. The café, which was training of journalists on health reporting with a focus on pandemic preparedness, was organised by the Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture (MESHA).

Health journalists participate in a training exercise during a Science Café on health reporting in Nairobi, February 9, 2024. Photo credit I Chemtai Kirui

John Muchangi, the Science Editor at the Star newspaper, said that there is still a lot of unexplored information on pandemics and epidemics, which can significantly increase public awareness.

“In my experience, reporting on a pandemic is a marathon without an end,” said Muchangi, who reported his continued coverage of COVID-19 with over 300 articles to his name so far.

He said that just because the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the end of COVID-19 as an international public health emergency, it does not mean that there are no stories that journalists can tell today on health concerns and other developments in pandemics or epidemics.

“People still need a vaccine, don’t they? Let’s look at malaria. The only vaccine available for malaria in Kenya now has an efficacy of about 36%. Does that mean that people should opt out because the efficacy is low?” he posed.

“If that is the only option, people will go for it, and that is where journalism comes in – letting the public know about this vaccine, where it is provided from, and how much it costs.”

Muchangi, however, urged journalists reporting on these scientific topics to check their ego and always be willing to be corrected where necessary.

“I once wrote a story where I compared one malaria vaccine with another, and reported that one vaccine worked better than the other based on the information I had at the moment,” he recalled.

“When the story was published, I got a lot of emails from concerned bodies such as the World Health Organisation, saying that the reporting was inaccurate.”

Muchangi said that the experience was disheartening since many journalists do not want to be questioned on their work, but after a lot of conversation, he realised that he had given the comparison of the vaccine based on differentiated variables and accepted his shortcomings.

Oda Audry Awino at the media science café in Nairobi, February 9, 2024. Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui

To avoid such scenarios, Muchangi recommended that journalists stay vigilant in the dynamic landscape of science and conduct research from reliable reports such as from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).

Among the attendees of the media science café was Audry Awino, an 18-year-old journalism student and host at Maseno University’s radio station, Maseno Radio. She said the training motivated her to actively seek out untold stories that have yet to capture public attention.

“When Muchangi said that in the last 50 weeks, no COVID-19 cases in Kenya have been reported in the WHO database, yet Kiambu County recently reported three cases, it showed that there is a gap that needs to be addressed,” Awino said.

Godfrey Ombogo, the immediate former editor at Sayansi Magazine and a member of MESHA, delivered a presentation on writing an impactful health story.

He said that a compelling health report should be supported by credible and relevant data, as numbers play a crucial role in conveying science stories to the audience.

Members of MESHA at a Science Café on health reporting, held in Nairobi on February 9, 2024. Photo Credit I Chemtai Kirui

“When writing for Sayansi Magazine, one should have multiple sources, at a minimum three,” Ombogo said.  “The sources, including experts, government agencies and beneficiaries, will provide a comprehensive and well-rounded perspective of the story you are reporting on.”

Ombogo further encouraged the use of data from reputable sources such as WHO and United Nations, surveys, studies, and local authorities to strengthen the credibility and impact of health stories.

African countries urged to keep vigilance on COVID-19

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Prof Jayne Byakika of WHO: She says that reduced public perception of risk and pandemic fatigue have led to drastically low use of public health and social measures.

By Stephen Misori I misori.village@gmail.com

The increased reluctance for vaccine uptake and the spread of misinformation on COVID-19 continue to Impede the implementation of crucial public health interventions, a high ranking WHO official has said.

Prof Jayne Byakika, the Regional Incident Manager for COVID-19, said at a media science café that over the last five weeks alone, 1.7 million new cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally, with over 10,000 deaths recorded during the same period.

Prof Byakika said that reduced public perception of risk and pandemic fatigue has led to drastically reduced use of public health and social measures, such as masks, washing of hands and social distancing.

“Even though the COVID -19 situation in Africa remains stable, there are at least 6,000 new cases reported. This in reality makes the virus a threat that could still take a long time to contain. It is however notable that the continent registered the lowest number of cases as recorded a year ago,” she said.

Prof Byakika, however, warned that the virus retains an ability to evolve into new variants with serious unpredictable characteristics. She urged authorities to enhance surveillance and reporting on hospitalisations, intensive care unit admissions and deaths to help understand the current impact on health situations and systems.

“The pandemic has exited the acute stage and transited to the protracted stage, and this is not an indication of lowering the guard. We must appreciate the interventions put in place by the World Health Organisation such as vaccination, which is one of the life-saving tools,” she said.

While responding to questions from journalists on vaccine uptake, Prof Byakika confirmed that globally, only 70 per cent have received at least one dose. She, however, decried the low vaccine uptake in Africa where only 36 per cent have at least taken one dose and a paltry 30 per cent having completed the
dosage.

“We encourage people to take vaccination since we do not know what kind of variant could be next. It is serious that only four countries have hit the target. We acknowledge Mauritius, Liberia, Seychelles and Rwanda for their contribution in containing the spread of COVID-19. All other African countries must take charge of the situation by encouraging their citizens to go for vaccinations,” she said.

In January 2023, WHO, in a special report, took issue with the elderly and healthcare workers for their laxity in going for vaccination. The report showed that only 51 per cent and 47 per cent of the target elderly population and healthcare workers, respectively, had completed primary vaccination series in 23
out of 47 countries.

Prof Byakika urged the State Parties to observe the temporary recommendations issued by WHO director, encouraging them to maintain momentum for COVID-19 vaccination to achieve 100 per cent coverage of high priority groups.

“The WHO director has advised the improvement on reporting of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data to WHO and the increase in uptake of medical countermeasures. In that case, State Parties should enhance access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. There is a need to maintain strong national response capacity and preparation for future events to avoid the occurrence of a panic-neglect cycle,” she said.

In its latest report, WHO committed to continue supporting research for improved vaccines that would reduce transmission, and continue to adjust any remaining international travel related measures based on risk assessment.

The science café was held amid media reports that Kenya could be experiencing a silent surge in the number of patients requiring oxygen as the country faces a new wave of COVID-19.

China, Prof Byakika said, is currently experiencing a new wave fuelled by XBB, which is expected to cause 65 million infections per week by June 2023. In Beijing, the number of new infections has quadrupled in four weeks.

XBB is also causing smaller waves in other parts of the world, including India, Singapore and the United States.XBB.1.16, the Arcturus variant, is a descendant of Omicron, with some reports suggesting it causes conjunctivitis or pink eye.

Speaking during the ninth Africa regional meeting of the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (Capsca) in Mombasa, experts from WHO and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned African countries against relaxing COVID-19 protocols, saying the world is not out of the woods yet. 

They added that the COVID-19 protocols were essential to control and manage any medical emergencies.

The experts also urged African countries to deploy public health officers in all international airports to screen passengers. 

Dr Miriam Nanyunja, WHO Regional Advisor for Risk Management and Preparedness, said public health officers in airports would help screen passengers and manage public health emergencies. 

“It’s critical to have public health officers stationed at airports to work with facility officers,” said Dr Nyanyuja, a public health expert.

Caption: Dr Patrick Oyaro: Myths and misconceptions affect the uptake of vaccines hence need to report on how prevention and control measures benefitted other health aspects.

Study: Immunisation programs unaffected by COVID-19

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Caption: Dr Patrick Oyaro: Myths and misconceptions affect the uptake of vaccines hence need to report on how prevention and control measures benefitted other health aspects.

By Asha Bekidusa I abekidusa@gmail.com

MOMBASA, May 18, 2023 – Immunisation programs in Kenya’s Kilifi county did not suffer adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new research has revealed.

The study called Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccine coverage in Kilifi, Kenya: a retrospective cohort study found out that despite many countries experiencing disruptions in out-patient visits and routine immunisation services during the early days of COVID-19, immunisation of children within the Kilifi County was not affected by the pandemic.

It also revealed that immunisation visits for the third dose of the Pentavalent vaccine and Measles containing vaccine were maintained during the first year and increased during the second year of the pandemic.

According to Dr Ruth Lucinde, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, who led the study, issuance of guidelines for continuity of essential services and exemption of healthcare workers and individuals seeking care from movement restrictions may have contributed to this scenario.

Additionally, supplying counties with extra vaccines and immunisation supplies and postponing routine weighing services for children but advising mothers to return for all their vaccination visits also contributed towards this positive report.

While making a presentation, COVID-19 Vaccination Integration into Routine Immunisation noted that currently there is still uptake as health workers implement door to door vaccination. He also said that partners have formed the County Technical Working Group which is multisector for planning and coordination; and to assess readiness.

“We know that COVID-19 is no longer an emergency, but this does not mean it is over,” he cautioned the journalists attending the 80th Science Media café by Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) yesterday.

Dr. Oyaro added that when COVID-19 measures were relaxed in the country there was a decline of uptake of vaccine in most counties including the Coastal region. Therefore, clear messaging and interpretation of public notice is important in managing responses to public health measures.

Naming myths and misconceptions as challenges affecting the uptake of vaccine, he advised journalists to report on the positives on how the infection prevention and control measures like wearing a mask and regular hand washing benefitted other health aspects like prevention/reduction of other respiratory and diarrheal diseases.

Anne Mweu from National Nurses Association of Kenya acknowledged the challenges that came with COVID-19 but noted that nurses are now better prepared to handle a pandemic than ever before as the shock and anxiety that at first accompanied the pandemic has been overcome by regular sensitization by the government.

Availability of resources such as personal protective equipment to protect the nurses and such resources were challenges however she noted that these are now available in the hospitals to offer protection to health workers countrywide.

 

 

 

 

A Nursing Mother from Thaba Phatšoa Ha Toboleloa ‘Mampho Raleting

Paying tribute to midwives around the world

by with One Comment Health
A Nursing Mother from Thaba Phatšoa Ha Toboleloa ‘Mampho Raleting

Liapeng Raliengoane: raliengoaneliapeng@yahoo.com

LESOTHO, Leribe – As the world commemorates the International Midwifery Day today, several interviews with midwives, village health workers and nursing mothers in the remotest areas of Leribe revealed that the midwives are instrumental in reducing maternal mortality and improving the overall health of mothers and new-borns in Lesotho.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), quality midwifery reduces maternal, new-born mortality and still birth rates by over 80% and reduces pre-term labour and birth by 24%.

International Midwifery Day is celebrated on 5th May every year to raise awareness of the role of midwives and to meet the growing needs of more midwives around the world. This year’s theme is “Together again: from evidence to reality.”

The Maternal Death Review Report (2015), has shown that the highest number of maternal deaths occurred in Maseru at Queen ‘Mamohato Hospital where 102 women lost their lives as a result of complications of delivery or inadequate care during pregnancy. Additional figures came from Leribe and Berea with 25 and 19 lives lost respectively.

Currently working at St. Dennis Health Centre, Nurse Midwife Tlaleng Motaba indicated that she studied towards midwifery because she loved it since childhood. She started working as a midwife in 2019.

Midwife Motaba revealed that in the beginning she was scared of delivering babies but as time went on, she got used to it.

The most challenging incident she came across while assisting a mother to deliver was when one day she came across twins, the mother did not go for ultrasound scan beforehand.

“This situation scared both me and the delivering mother as she was not anticipating twins, but all went well, there were no complications both babies and their mother lived,” she said.

She also expressed a wish for midwives to be afforded an opportunity for refresher courses often. Her words of encouragement to other midwives is that they should love their job and also groom expecting and delivering mothers to do the right thing.

From Khabo Health Centre, Nurse Midwife Lahlewe Kao said growing up, she aspired to become a nurse and her dream came true. She started working at the facility in 2022 and has delivered about 15 to 20 babies and they were all alive.

Midwife Kao expressed that seeing both the mother and baby healthy post-delivery, is satisfactory to her and brings a lot of joy in her heart. That one challenge facing them is the shortage of staff.  

She said the most challenging instant in her life was when one midnight she was helping a mother to deliver and came across a complication thus had to refer her to the hospital but none of the emergency ambulances were available.

In the end she got help from a villager’s personal car and the mother was taken to the hospital and was delivered. She said this was the most frustrating event she went through as she was worried about both the mother and the baby when her efforts to get a car proved futile.

To her fellow colleagues this International Midwifery Day, midwife Kao encourages them to work tirelessly in seeing that both the delivering mothers and their babies are safe in their hands.

Although midwifery is a career perceived by society to be for women, Lesotho has beaten this odd, as there are male midwives.

A Nurse Midwife working at Matlameng Health Centre Thabo Makhakhe made known that he became a midwife because he had never seen a male midwife and he wanted to be a trailblazer in that field. He started working as a midwife in 2019 and has delivered many healthy babies.  His message to fellow colleagues today, is that they should always be positive.

Another Nurse Midwife from Matlameng Health Centre Teboho Makhebesela started working as a midwife in 2021. He said he became a midwife because he wanted to become “something big” in life as in his family there were no graduates at all he wanted to defeat the odds.

He explained that he has so far delivered about 20 babies. That he has realized that festive season, is the busiest season whereby many babies are delivered.

His words of encouragement to the fellow midwives is that midwifery is a closed book, that they should update their knowledge often, they should read a lot and also meet with other midwives to discuss the challenges they come across.

To other males who want to become midwives but succumb to societal beliefs, he encouraged them to pursue midwifery and never mind what people are saying. That they should be aware that every now and then, there is a baby born thus they will have job and a well-paying one for that matter.  

A Nursing Mother from Thaba Phatšoa Ha Toboleloa ‘Mampho Raleting related that she got good health services from when she was pregnant, while giving birth and post-delivery. She marvelled at the support the midwives provided and continue to provide in her journey of motherhood.

A Village Heath Worker from Ha Toboleloa ‘Makelello Pitsi expressed joy over the work and services provided by the midwives. She said their dedication goes beyond their scope of work.

“Sometimes when delivering mothers have no clothes, or no money to go to Motebang hospital when they are referred there, the midwives provide them from their own pockets. I have seen it happen many times, they are the real-life savers in every sense of the word,” Pitsi revealed.

These interviews were conducted during a field trip supported by the United Nations Population Fund Lesotho (UNFPA) for journalists to conduct interviews in hard to reach clinics so as to write informed stories that highlight the role of midwives in saving the lives of mothers and babies and focusing on the critical role of midwives in reducing maternal and child mortality in the country.   

 A statement by UNFPA highlights that the midwives and people with midwifery skills are the main caregivers for women and their new-borns during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and in the post-delivery period, therefore, UNFPA stands in solidarity with midwives worldwide and expresses gratitude to them for the life-saving work they do. UNFPA’s theme for this day is “Actioning Evidence: Leading the Way to Enhance Quality Midwifery Care Globally.”

In over 125 countries, UNFPA advances midwifery by strengthening quality education, regulations and workforce policies, and building strong national associations of midwives.

In Lesotho, UNFPA supports the government through the Ministry of Health in advancing the midwifery curriculum and strengthening midwifery services as a strategy of reducing maternal deaths. It also supports training of midwives, emergency obstetric and neonatal care.