Health Reporting
Dozens of reporters from across Bangladesh converged in Dhaka May 19th and 20th to attend a workshop on the subject of Avian Influenza. Held at the Press Club in downtown Dhaka, the workshop presented participants with information about the most recent strain of the virus, the disease’s modes of human transmission, and the importance of protecting Bangladesh’s vital poultry industry.
Subject-matter expert Muhaiddin Haidar of the University of Maryland provided engaging guidance for reporters on ways to make their stories interesting while delivering accurate information to their audiences. Other presentations came from the World Health Organization, the Fire and Civil Defense organization, and a crowd-sourcing expert.
Since June, the health and wellness message has continued in bi-weekly radio and television programs aired by journalists of Radio Today, (the first private radio station in Bangladesh), Desh TV, and VOA Bangla. The USAID and VOA sponsored programs cover a range of topics including HIV/AIDS, child marriage, use of technology for health information delivery, population, and family planning.
USAID partners such as Save the Children and Engender Health, as well as the people of Bangladesh, continue to benefit from markedly increased community awareness, interest, and engagement in health-related issues generated by the programming.