KIGALI - Over 40 journalists from various media houses are undergoing training in how to report on health issues.

The training, which was organised by Health Communication Centre (HCC), is aimed at equipping the media with enough knowledge on health issues.

"We don’t want journalists to misinform the public; so we have dedicated three days and brought in experts to teach them about various health issues,” said France Uwase, Social Mobilisation Officer at HCC.

"The media is the biggest source of information for the public. So if they have wrong information, then the biggest part of the population is bound to be misled”.

She added that this is the fifth training session they have so far held this year.

The topics covered during the exercise included HIV, Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, family planning and reproductive health.

Suzanne Mukakabanda, one of the trainers from Intra Health International, who addressed the journalists on family planning, said that the training would not only benefit the journalists, but the entire community.

The media fraternity expressed gratitude to HCC for the training that will help them be more acquainted will health issues.

"I can now report with authority on issues such as HIV, family planning and the various contraceptives and how they are used,” said Eric Muvara, a reporter with Flash FM.

Cecile Umutesi, another journalist, urged other organisations and ministries to regularly  organise such training programs for journalists so as to have a well-informed media and public.

Ends