Innocent Anyole, manager of Busoga One FM, noted that although vaccination campaigns benefit the public, many media houses operate on commercial bases, which can limit unpaid promotional activities.
Health workers in Busoga Sub-Region have called on journalists to actively promote the nationwide immunization campaign, “The Big Catch Up,” which aims to vaccinate individuals who missed previous immunization drives.
Through the Busoga Health Forum (BHF), health workers emphasized the critical role of the media in setting the public agenda, especially in motivating communities to embrace vaccination efforts. The campaign focuses on vaccines for preventable diseases, including polio, pneumonia, tuberculosis, tetanus, cervical cancer, yellow fever, and whooping cough, among others.
Moses Kyangwa, CEO of BHF, explained that many community members still avoid vaccination due to myths and beliefs in witchcraft, hampering the effectiveness of these essential health campaigns. He noted that such myths, along with poor health-seeking behaviors, have long undermined health efforts in the region.
To counter this, BHF has trained over 100 media professionals, including reporters, editors, radio DJs, presenters, bloggers, TikTok creators, and social media influencers, to disseminate accurate information on vaccination benefits and the risks associated with missing scheduled vaccines.
Highlighting the HPV vaccine, Kyangwa noted that its low uptake is largely due to information gaps, which he believes can be addressed through strategic media partnerships. The HPV vaccine, proven effective in preventing cervical cancer, is widely available in health centers across the country but remains underutilized.
Kyangwa expressed optimism, noting that journalists, as trusted community agents, are well-positioned to positively impact public attitudes toward health, education, and other social matters.
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Journalists, however, encouraged BHF to tailor campaign messages in local languages for greater impact. Moses Musambi of BABAFM suggested that BHF hire a language expert to translate information on diseases and their risks, making it relatable for grassroots communities. He noted that many people hold onto superstitions, which can deter them from seeking vaccinations.
Ritah Nangobi, a blogger, also called on BHF to maintain a steady flow of vaccination-related updates, which she said would help her create engaging content for her online followers. Faridah Namulondo, sub-editor at NBSFM, recommended formal partnerships between BHF and radio stations through memorandums of understanding (MOUs) that would encourage newsrooms to regularly cover health news. She believes such partnerships would promote BHF’s health campaigns beyond immunization.
Meanwhile, Innocent Anyole, manager of Busoga One FM, noted that although vaccination campaigns benefit the public, many media houses operate on commercial bases, which can limit unpaid promotional activities. Anyole suggested that BHF collaborate with resident district commissioners to use government-allocated airtime during the "Big Catch Up" campaign, which could help reach broader audiences more effectively.
In response, BHF pledged to consider these suggestions to improve campaign outreach and ensure that crucial vaccination information reaches the communities in need.
