Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 8 (EMN): The ministry of Health and Family Welfare, government of India, in partnership with United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) on Thursday organised an online media interaction session on “Community ownership of Covid appropriate behaviour, evidence-based reporting and busting myths on Covid and vaccination.”
Media professionals and health correspondents of North eastern states including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura participated in the workshop, which was organised on virtual mode.
Speaking at the event, which was participated by more than 130 health journalists, the joint secretary Lav Agarwal has commended media professionals for their sustained efforts in collective fight against Covid-19. He said that media persons are major influencers of society as they could encourage people to vaccinate and follow Covid appropriate behaviour.
He acknowledged that the media plays a constructive role in overcoming vaccine hesitancy by busting myths and fake news that is widely shared on social media platforms.
Highlighting India’s Covid-19 management strategy, he said that there are three important components of the fight against Covid namely community ownership of Covid appropriate behaviour, evidence based reporting, and busting myths on Covid and vaccination.
Agarwal, while giving a brief snapshot of prevailing Covid situation in North East India, stated that 80% new cases in India were reported from the North Eastern states. Highlighting specific challenges linked to North Eastern states, he added that the government of India has supported North Eastern states by following a proactive, pre-emptive, graded approach for fighting the Covid pandemic. He also shared the details of active cases and the status of vaccination drives in the North Eastern states.
He acknowledged the media as an important stakeholder in creating an enabling environment for vaccination by busting myths, fears and apprehensions surrounding Covid vaccination. He further urged the media persons to start Jan Andolan (public movement) by mobilising the community as role- models.