Ministry of Health strengthens relations with media partners |07 November 2017

Members of the risk communication committee of the Ministry of Health (MoH) met representatives from various local media houses and other stakeholders to discuss on reporting emergency situations.

The meeting was held at the Sheik Khalifa conference room yesterday where representatives who attended were from Pure FM, K-Radio, Today publishers, National Information Services Agency (Nisa) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB).

The risk communication committee, which is chaired by George Madeleine, was set up recently in response to the plague outbreak in Madagascar as Seychelles has been categorised as a high risk country for plague being in close proximity with Madagascar.

It consists of members from the Public Health Authority (PHA), World Health Organisation (WHO), MoH, Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS), Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) and the tourism department.

The first presentation was led by the PHA representative, Dr Naomi Adeline, who made a short overview of the plague situation in Seychelles.

A WHO risk communication specialist Laura Keenan led a presentation on the role of journalists in communicating public health risk, followed by a presentation from the public relations (PR) officer Nancy Tomkings on the role of the media during emergency situations.

Ms Keenan said journalists play a vital role when it comes to reporting on outbreaks and how to collaborate with the committee.

“Media has very specific responsibilities in any situation and some of these responsibilities are also about accountability but at the same time you have to provide credible, accurate information to the people and not try to over sensationalise the situation. This so that people can have a true understanding of the level of risk that they face during any emergency situation,” she said.

Dr Adeline said at the moment there are no suspected cases of plague in Seychelles.

“No one is under surveillance as the last person, an American, was discharged from observation unit in Perseverance on Sunday,” she said.

Miss Tomkings noted the need and importance for there to be a good partnership between the media and the ministry for communication during such periods.

“Even international media houses are using the information published by local media as sources so the information has to be credible,” she said.

An in-house training was held with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) staff members yesterday afternoon as well.

A forum to allow better communication with the media is expected to be held on Thursday with spokesperson of the MoH, Seychelles Police, Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) and other stakeholders.