In a bid to strengthen global health communication and promote ethical science reporting, Rwanda has officially launched its One Health Communication Guidelines, designed to bridge gaps between human, animal and environmental health sectors.
The guidelines were introduced Friday in Kigali by the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), and ISAAA AfriCenter under the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) Project. The initiative is seen as a significant step toward multisectoral collaboration on global health issues such as zoonotic outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food security and climate-sensitive diseases.
“This is about stewardship,” said Emmanuel Mugisha, executive secretary of RMC. “The guidelines will not only empower journalists to report ethically and responsibly, but also deepen collaboration across scientific and public sectors.”
The launch event, held at Lemigo Hotel, drew a diverse group of participants including journalists, health professionals, academics, civil society representatives and government officials — all recognizing the media’s central role in shaping public understanding of complex health issues.
Dr. Anselme Shyaka, One Health faculty member at UGHE and Rwanda’s COHESA multiplier, said accurate, compassionate health reporting is more vital than ever. “Science-based reporting is a public good,” he said. “These guidelines will empower communicators to report with accuracy, empathy and a sense of shared responsibility.”
Representing ISAAA AfriCenter, Dr. Margaret Karembu, the organization’s director and chair of the Africa Science Dialogue, emphasized the urgency of countering misinformation in science reporting.
“Disinformation is a major challenge next to climate change,” she said. “These guidelines are both timely and urgent.”
The One Health concept acknowledges that the health of people is interconnected with that of animals and the environment. Organizers say the new guidelines respond to longstanding fragmentation in science journalism, offering practical tools and ethical standards to improve storytelling and reporting across sectors.
“Information is a determinant of health and successful One Health,” said Dr. Phaedra Henley, chair of the Center for One Health at UGHE, during her closing remarks.
Rwanda was commended during the launch for taking the lead on the initiative, which is expected to serve as a model for other countries in the region.
The guidelines will be widely disseminated, with a commitment from COHESA partners — ISAAA AfriCenter and UGHE — to continue building the capacity of journalists in Rwanda and beyond. RMC will integrate the guidelines into national media ethics frameworks and monitor health reporting content for compliance. An impact evaluation mechanism is also being developed to track uptake and improvements in the quality of health journalism.
