Zoonoses: Celebration of committed Congolese journalists
On September 22, the awards ceremony for the competition for the best program and the best report on Zoonoses took place in Silikikin village, in the commune of Gombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Organized by the Radio Workshop (RW) in partnership with the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOSA), this first edition aimed to highlight the talent of Congolese journalists and encourage them to become actors of social change in their communities.
The competition rewarded two female journalists, Noella Kamba and Josée Kalumba Mushinta, for their broadcasts and reports on zoonoses. The jury, made up of professionals in the field, praised the quality of their work, demonstrating their commitment and their ability to raise awareness among communities about these infectious diseases transmissible between animals and humans.
Jérémie Mupepe, project manager of the Radio Workshop in the DRC, spoke with satisfaction about the progress of the event. Despite some unachieved objectives, he is convinced that these initiatives have made it possible to impact communities and change their behavior, often based on ignorance. He thanked all stakeholders for their involvement in the success of this competition.
This campaign aims to improve understanding of zoonotic risks and to arouse the interest of populations living in at-risk regions in the DRC. Zoonoses indeed represent a major challenge for public health, and their prevention and management are essential to avoid the spread of potentially dangerous diseases.
Journalists and bloggers have a crucial role in disseminating information and raising awareness among the population. Their work helps to educate, prevent and encourage responsible behavior in the face of zoonoses. It is therefore important to support them and promote their initiatives, as this competition does, in order to strengthen the fight against these diseases.
In conclusion, this first edition of the awards for the best report and the best program on zoonoses in the DRC was a success, highlighting the talent of Congolese journalists engaged in the fight against these diseases. Hopefully this will encourage other media professionals to get involved in raising awareness and becoming agents of change in their communities. The prevention and management of zoonoses is a crucial issue for public health, and everyone can play a role in this fight.