Over 60 Rwandan journalists are participating in a five-day training on their role to increase community mobilization and promoting public access of fact-based information on Covid-19 pandemic in Rwanda.
The workshop facilitated by the Rwandan media network against HIV/AIDS and for Health promotion (ABASIRWA) aims at equipping journalists specialized on health issues with safety information, ethical and professional reporting skills.
The President of ABASIRWA, Frank Ndamage officially welcoming journalists to the training in Nyamata said that the media is required to play a vital role in engaging the public in implementation of various measures against the pandemic, so trainees should take opportunity of such trainings.

The organizers say that this is targeting to debunk and mitigate the myths and misinformation relating to Covid-19 pandemic through the media’s role.
During the 5-days, journalists from various media houses in Rwanda are expected to engage others and share experience on Covid-19 pandemic in the country, provide update on the response in the framework of strengthening and giving orientation of their role in the global integration in their respective media organization.
Health and experts from other sectors will help and enlighten journalists with issues like response to rumors and misinformation, community engagement, fact-checking of online health information and reporting on Covid-19 vaccines.
The training themed, “The role of journalist to increase their engagements in community mobilization and promoting public access of fact-based information on Covid-19 pandemic in Rwanda,” was organized by ABASIRWA in partnership with Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC).