By: MariamaNjie
The Gambia Press union (GPU) has recently engaged 25 journalists on two-day training at Baobab Hotel to promote peace and positive messaging in their daily reporting.
The training which was funded by UNDP was meant to promote intergenerational dialogue and maintain community peace and dialogue in The Gambia.
The project is facilitated by the National Youth Council and funded by the UNDP to promote intergenerational dialogue to maintain community peace in The Gambia.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Director of Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health, Modou Njai said currently there are lot of misinformation in the Gambia about covid-19 vaccines which poses a serious threat in the communities.
“So as journalists you have a key role in using your media platforms and correct the misinformation by engaging people at all level,” he added.
Njai added that vaccination isn’t something new and that all the myths about the vaccine is not true, he therefore called on journalists to double up in promoting peace and convince people to take their vaccines.
Meanwhile, the vice president of Gambia Press Union, Muhammed S. Bah described the training as key saying that Covid-19 is surrounded by stigmatization and misconceptions.
He added that it is important that the media is fully equipped to be able to spread the right and positive information to the public.
He urged participants to put the knowledge gained into their day-to-day reports.
Omar Bah, Programme Officer at National Youth Council said the training could not have come at a better time as elections are due to take place in the country in a few months’ time.
“As journalist you are trusted and have a very important role to play as we approach December presidential election,” adding that there are lots of misinformation on social media.
