Medias role in malaria prevention

Speaking at a two-day sensitization workshop for journalists at a local hotel here, the Information and Education Officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Simon Simbi, said the media should position malaria prevention and control initiatives as a national development priority in Zimbabwe (Millennium Development Goal No.4 – MDG 4).

Simbi highlighted that there was need for the arrangement of innovative and creative use of print and electronic media. There is also need to stimulate community radio broadcasts based on core malaria messages. Everyone is at risk of getting malaria, more so in endemic areas. People should have access through the media to malaria interventions that save lives, he said.

Simbi said malaria is preventable and curable and all vulnerable persons should sleep under long-lasting treated nets. The media should ensure that the participation of internal and external partners should be increased in order to create an enabling environment for malaria prevention and control. Malaria is a disease without borders so there is need for the media to unite to fight malaria, he said

As media, work with malaria partners towards the stated targets to mobilise necessary resources from private, public and NGOs. The media should increase knowledge base and awareness in malaria control at advocacy, social mobilization and programme communication, Simbi said. He encouraged the media to write stories and disseminate information more about malaria in pregnant women and children as they are at high risk of contracting malaria.

Communities should seek prompt treatment for symptoms of malaria. Long lasting insecticide treated nets are invaluable in the prevention of malaria for the entire family but more so for pregnant women and young children, added Simbi.

He said he was happy that the media and the world were working together to beat malaria in coordination and cooperation between endemic countries, governments, foundations, NGOs and private sector.