Africa's Bird Flu Preparations Must Involve the Media

This editorial details how the African media can play a key role in mitigating the spread of avian influenza. The authors explain how media-training workshops in Uganda and Nigeria are empowering journalists to accurately and effectively report on avian influenza issues.

According to the article, the workshops have inspired journalists and editors to produce improved bird flu reporting knowledge and coverage. The workshops have also opened up new lines of communication between government officials and the media. For example, in Uganda, the government is planning to involve the media in outbreak simulation exercises, while the Nigerian government is encouraging better links between health officials and the media.

In conjunction with workshops and training events, the article also advocates the importance of on-going and continued support for journalists on avian flu issues. The authors suggest establishing an international network for journalists as a way to keep informed about avian flu; they also provide examples of organisations that currently support journalists through discussion forums, subscriber lists and long-term mentoring programmes.

The article concludes with the recommendation that, along with journalists, senior editors of media houses must also be trained and included in national preparedness plans to help combat avian flu.