Theme: “Health Sovereignty in Africa”
President of FAAPAMinister of Youth, Culture, and Communication of Morocco, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson of theRepublic of Côte d'Ivoire, Distinguished Director Generals, media professionals, health experts, and esteemed guests.
I am honoured to address this distinguished assembly at the 8th General Assembly of the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA).
Under the theme “Health Sovereignty in Africa,” I will examine African news agencies' vital role in safeguarding public health and sovereignty against the background of someone who has had the privilege of leading Sierra Leone’s media response during our battles against COVID-19. I will share insights drawn from the crucible of crisis management. These experiences underscore the indispensable role of the media in strengthening health systems, shaping public narratives, and saving lives.
Mr. President, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities across Africa, not only in healthcare systems but also in our information ecosystems.
In Sierra Leone, the dual crises of Ebola and COVID-19 highlighted the urgent need for sovereign health systems tailored to our unique challenges. Weak health infrastructure, compounded by misinformation and disinformation, magnified the impact of these health crises, resulting in unnecessary loss of lives and a slower recovery process. This is a heavy lesson: Health sovereignty is not just about resources but about empowering people with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions for their well-being.
When Sierra Leone faced the Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2015, the epidemic resulted in over 14,000 cases and nearly 4,000 deaths. Traditional practices involving physical contact with corpses exacerbated transmission rates, with one tragic incident in Moyamba district linking 28 cases to a single unsafe burial. Women bore the brunt of these risks as primary caregivers and ritual performers. Despite their central roles, communication strategies often failed to target them effectively.
Similarly, during COVID-19, misinformation about vaccines and treatments spread faster than the virus. Rumours of unproven cures led to harmful practices and increased vaccine hesitancy. These crises highlighted a glaring truth: our people died because of insufficient information. The media’s role became pivotal in addressing these gaps.
As the Media Lead for the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Center (NaCOVERC) and the Ebola Preparedness Plan, I witnessed how the media can either propel or hinder public health efforts. Timely, accurate, and culturally sensitive communication emerged as a cornerstone of crisis management, and we employed the following strategies.
Building Trust: we partnered with traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, and local influencers to disseminate accurate information. This approach ensured that messages were not just heard but believed. For example, radio dramas in local languages effectively reached rural audiences, fostering community engagement.
Promoting Health Literacy: we also recognised that Health literacy is essential for empowering individuals to access, understand, and act on health information. Globally, countries like China, Germany, and the U.S. have implemented national health literacy action plans. However, Africa lacks a comprehensive framework. In Sierra Leone, we focused on equipping communities with the knowledge to identify risks and adopt safe practices using social media channels such as WhatsApp, Facebook and community radios. And
Scientific Communication: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for nuanced scientific communication. Journalists played a critical role in translating complex medical information into accessible narratives. Addressing vaccine hesitancy required clear, evidence-based explanations without oversimplifying nuances.
Mr. President, we tried to do our best amid all the challenges. However, we are not oblivious that we were inherently limited technically and by resources. More importantly, we learnt a lot in the process,and this leads me to the following conclusion that health sovereignty requires a multi-faceted approach:
Investing in Specialized Training: Health crises demand skilled journalists capable of interpreting epidemiological data and navigating ethical reporting dimensions. At the Risk Communications and Social Mobilisation pillar, we worked collaboratively with UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and their partners, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, to train journalists, radio presenters, and social media influencers to counter misinformation effectively. Training, mentoring, and provision of proactive information were our efforts, however modest, to make up for the knowledge gap.
Fostering Collaboration: Partnerships between media, health sectors, and community leaders are critical. During COVID-19, NaCOVERC coordinated efforts with religious leaders, influencers, and community leaders working as COVID-19 Ambassadors to ensure that information reached diverse audiences, from urban centres to remote villages.
Leveraging Technology: Digital platforms offer unparalleled opportunities to amplify accurate information and combat disinformation. Social media campaigns, mobile outreach programs, and visual aids were instrumental in our efforts.
Gender-Inclusive Communication: Health communication strategies must acknowledge women’s caregiving and community leadership roles. Despite evidence that women were disproportionately affected by Ebola, outreach services failed to target them effectively. The COVID response, therefore, mainstreamed gender into all its programming and harnessed women’s leadership, fostering resilience and improving outcomes.
Mr President, I must note that the lessons learnt from these crises establish that health sovereignty begins with information sovereignty. By empowering our people with accurate, reliable information, we enable them to take ownership of their health and futures.
I urge us to:
Establish Centers of Excellence for specialised training on health journalism across Africa to build capacity and expertise. This includes the ethics of health reporting. Mr President, this is lacking and an extremely important part of our pandemic preparedness.
Strengthen Collaborative Networks between press agencies, health authorities, and community stakeholders. And
Harness the Power of Data and Technology to disseminate credible, inclusive, culturally relevant information.
African press agencies must lead this charge. With our networks, credibility, and influence, we can shape narratives that promote resilience and health sovereignty.
In Conclusion, reflecting on Sierra Leone’s journey, I am reminded that the media’s role extends beyond information dissemination. We are catalysts for public understanding, trust, and action. By embracing this responsibility, we can help build a future where every African enjoys the dignity of informed health decisions.
Let us rise to this challenge together. Thank you.
End
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