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| IGNOU and UNICEF Health Editors' meet on April 26 at Hotel Royal Plaza, New Delhi |
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| Veteran journalists Mr. Vinod Mehta and Sir William Mark Tully chaired the valedictory session. |
Setting
the context, Dr. Ajay Khera, Deputy Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, New Delhi informed that the Government of India has declared Year 2012
-13 as the year of Intensification of Routine Immunization.
Focusing
on the fact that out of 26 million
children born every year in India, one-third do not complete their
immunization, national editors discussed
the crucial role that media can
play for tackling this issue.
Sir Mark
Tully, veteran journalist said, “Undue emphasis is laid on curative medicine
rather than preventive measures and that is why I entirely support the
immunization campaign. For spreading awareness traditional media like radio can
still be very effective to reach remote areas of the country”.
Emphasizing
on the need for health communication to be simple, icon of Indian journalism,
Mr. Vinod Mehta said, “Health issues are often communicated in a complex
manner. Stories have to be simple in order to communicate effectively.
Strategies like celebrity endorsements as seen in the case of the polio
program, can make a huge difference.”
Mr. Palash Surjan, Editor, Deshbandhu, Madhya Pradesh pointed
out that MP has one of the lowest immunization rates -
42% against the national average of 60%. The need to build capacities of
grassroots journalists and sensitize the large number of women Panchayati Raj
Institution members was emphasized by him.”
Caroline Den Dulk, Chief of Advocacy and
Communication, UNICEF, said, “Today’s discussion highlights the need for
large-scale partnerships, bridging information gaps and building trust at all
levels in order to prevent millions of under five children dying from Vaccine
Preventable Diseases.”
Citing the
example of Right to Education, Mr. Saunand from IGNOU and Mr. S.K Singh,
Executive Editor, Zee News proposed the concept of “Right to Immunization” for
ensuring an equitable approach for IRI. This would call for all stakeholders
including media to join forces.
Ms. Nidhi
Kulpati, NDTV India highlighted the need for media to focus on the frontline
workers who are crucial for delivering
health services in remote areas Mr. R.K Singh, Editor Navbharat Times and Mr. P.
Somvanshi, Resident Editor, Hindustan pointed out that in areas where both
media penetration and immunization coverage is low, innovative means of
communication such as mobile phones should be used. Voicing the critical role
played by Urdu media, Mr. Alamgir, News Editor, UNI highlighted the critical
role of Urdu media in reaching out to minorities and marginalized communities. Ms
Sanchita Sharma, Health Editor Hindustan Times pointed out that negative news
or controversies can be turned into huge opportunities and highlight critical
survival issues.
Stressing
on the need for two-way flow of information between the media and health
authorities, Kounteya Sinha, Health Editor, Times of India said, “We are interested in doing good stories.
Immunization is a major problem area for the country and we are only too eager
to help provided there is complete transparency.”
“Compared
with the national media the state and district media has extensive reach and it
is important to engage specifically with these grassroot level journalists.
Branding with local connect should be created around the concept of Routine
Immunization,’” said Mr. Q. W Naqwi, Aaj Tak.
Mr.
N.K. Singh, senior media editor from Madhya Pradesh also emphasized the need
for branding and making RI a social programme
where diverse groups of civil society members are engaged.
Dr. Henri
van den Hombergh, Chief Health, UNICEF added, “Routine immunization can become
routine if there is popular demand and awareness for it and the role of media
therefore is absolutely crucial”.
Developmental journalists who have
contributed some of the best immunization stories since the launch of the
partnership were recognized and awarded during the function. The awardees
included Mr. Kounteya Sinha, Health Editor, Times of India, Mr. Nitin Yadav,
Senior Sub- Editor, Amar Ujala, Mr. Santosh Singh, Senior Correspondent,
Prabhat Khabar, Mr. M.A. Alamgir, Chief Sub Editor, UNI Urdu, Ms. Shefali
Chaturvedi, Senior Manager- Programming- Radio Dhammal24. Media professionals
from Madhya Pradesh who received the certificates are Mr. Sundip Pouranik,
Principal Correspondent IANS, Mr. Raju Kumar, Principal Correspondent, The
Sunday Indian, Ms. Ruby Sarkar, Special Correspondent, Deshbandhu, Ms.Ankita
Mishra, Asst. Editor, LN Star, Mr. Rakesh Malviya, Freelance journalist, Rohit
Shrivastava, Senior Reporter, Dainik Bhaskar and Mr. Pankaj Shukla, City Bureau
Head, Navdunia.
Caroline den Dulk,Chief, Advocacy & Partnerships, Tel: +91-98-1810-6093
E-mail:cdendulk@unicef.org
Geetanjali Master, Communication Specialist,
Tel: +91-9818105861,
E-mail: gmaster@unicef.org
Sonia Sarkar, Communication Officer, Tel :
+91-9810170289
E-mail : ssarkar@unicef.org
Anil Gulati, Communciation Specialist, Tel : + 097-052 538802
Email : agulati@unicef.org
S. Saunand, IGNOU. Tel: + 81 30 35 8629
E-mail: ssaunand@ignou.ac.in
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