Journalists form body to play active role against polio
PESHAWAR – As a response to the growing number of polio cases in the country, Peshawar Press Club Tuesday announced the form ‘Journalists Against Polio’ in a bid to help the officials in the anti-polio drives in the province.
President Peshawar Press Club Saiful Islam Saifi made the announcement during a Health Journalism Workshop arranged by Misal Pakistan, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Saifi said healthcare system in Pakistan remained a focus for critical debate in the country’s media and at government-level: whether they are of achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals or the ghastly condition of the basic health units. “It has been researched that as many as thousands of Pakistani children missed their polio drops in the past couple of years with the worst-affected areas being Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata,” he remarked. The daylong workshop was attended by journalists from both print and electronic media. The trainers included Aamir Ahmed Khan, BBC Global Urdu Service Head, Azmat Abbas from UNICEF, Amir Jahangir, Mishal Pakistan; Puruesh Chaudhary, Center for International Media Ethics (CIME) Ambassador to Pakistan, and Dr. Obaidul Islam, World Health Organisation.
Aamer Ahmed Khan said that it is critical that the journalists should remain ethical while reporting on child-sensitive issues.
He explained best practices adopted by International Media Organizations and the significance of maintaining children identify safe. He also emphasized on the importance of media’s role in eradicating polio from Pakistan.
He stated that the current Polio situation in Pakistan has come to a point where not only one organization or stakeholder can take control but also each and every one of us should play our role. It is everyone’s duty to step forward and contribute whatever possible in this wise cause for the betterment of our children and for the betterment of our country, Pakistan. According to him, Journalists being a vital part of our society should contribute by taking supportive actions towards the eradication of polio.
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