The training, held at Hillview Hotel in Rumbek, was organized by South Sudan’s national and state health ministries, with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) under the Health Transformation Project.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Mach Achiek, Director of Information, Communication, and Technology at the national health ministry, said the workshop focused on equipping media and health officials with the tools to report accurately and ethically on public health matters.
“We trained journalists and CHD directors on proper health reporting and the use of digital tools,” Achiek said. “We also addressed common challenges in covering health issues in South Sudan.”
Achiek cautioned against the unchecked use of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism, emphasizing the need for fact-checking, especially in the context of South Sudan’s complex health environment.
“AI can be misleading. Even if you use it, you must cross-check facts,” he said. “Only the national health ministry has the authority to declare disease outbreaks.”
Maker Malok, Director-General of the Lakes State Health Ministry, stressed the importance of a clear reporting chain from county to state and then to the national level. He recalled a December 2024 incident where a midwife made unverified public statements on the radio, which caused confusion among the public.
“We urge all reporters to respect the official communication hierarchy to avoid misinformation,” Malok said.
Mayak Majak Madit, Lakes State Coordinator of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), described the training as interactive and timely. He called for more regular engagements and reminded journalists to seek permission before using images or videos, particularly in health reporting.
“We must report responsibly, especially on sensitive issues like the recent cholera outbreaks in some counties,” he said.
The workshop brought together journalists, CHD officials, and monitoring and evaluation officers from all eight counties of Lakes State. Organizers hope to replicate similar trainings across other states to enhance health literacy and prevent the spread of misinformation.
