As part of government efforts in achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) target by 2030, some selected journalists nationwide have been trained on the Community Scorecard (CSC) initiative.
This is an initiative which assesses facilities in a particular community.
The two-day training workshop organized by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), the Ghana Health Service and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), aimed at enhancing journalists’ skills in tracking and reporting on healthcare delivery at the local level.
Led by experienced trainers, journalists were taken through topics such as:
* Ghana’s Primary healthcare system and understanding the CHPS concept.
* Expertise France Community Scorecard project.
* Ghana’s community scorecard
* Accessing data and information from the community scorecard web platforms.
* Media ethics and reporting on vulnerable groups(T.B patients &women, PLWA)
* The role of the media in the CSC project.
Through interactive sessions and group exercises, journalists gained hands-on experience in using the Community Score Card (CSC) tool to assess healthcare services in their communities.
The Executive Director of AMMREN, Dr. Mrs. Charity Binka in an interview with the media said journalists are crucial in amplifying community voices hence the training to empower them to demand accountability and improve healthcare outcomes.
Dr Binka was very greatful to Ghana Health service for willing to educate the media in achieving the UNC target which is crucial and Ghana is not performing too well in its efforts, so journalists need to be empowered with information to foster advocacy, education and awareness creation among the populace.
The Deputy Director in charge of planning monitoring and evaluation with Ghana Health Service, Dr. Andrew Ayim on his part noted that the media are very critical for how they disseminate information bordering on health, hence bringing them together to discuss the community scorecard, to help report on the gaps between the community and the health systems.
Dr. Andrew Ayim
Although he had concerns with how the media sometimes report on the negatives of the health system, he believes it can get better.The journalists can help report or bridge the gap between the community and the health systems by understanding the communities, also understanding the health system, and reporting in a balanced way that helps the community and the health systems to grow together and become better for the country, so that the health of the people can improve and we will achieve our Universal Health Coverage target.
