Media and Public Health: PLAFOPS positions itself to institutionalize health education

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Extract from the article: On Tuesday, October 7, the Platform of Press Organizations for Health (PLAFOPS) organized a day of reflection and advocacy on the role of the media in promoting health. The goal is to encourage the media in Togo to take ownership of health promo.....

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On Tuesday, October 7, the Platform of Press Organizations for Health (PLAFOPS) organized a day of reflection and advocacy on the role of the media in promoting health. The goal is to encourage the media in Togo to take ownership of health promotion initiatives with a view to reducing preventable diseases.

Although the media are considered to be the ultimate source of information and education, they are rarely involved in the development and implementation of major public health programs in Togo. Educating the population on health issues is important. It is therefore imperative to continue to inform and educate the Togolese people about health matters.

According to Basile Mignaké, president of PLAFOPS: « People are dying from causes that could be prevented through information and education. This is understandable, because in our country, information and education initiatives are weak. The media, as the ultimate information and education structures, feel called upon to act. What can be done to institutionalize and intensify the media's contribution to the health system in order to reverse current health trends? »

Joint and structured action against NCDs in Togo

The population's level of knowledge about health is low. Faced with this challenge, PLAFOPS has structured its vision. An advocacy campaign has been launched around an awareness-raising project focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This would enable the press to fully play its role in providing information and education. After discussion, the project was approved by the participants. « It would be good if the press or the media, through PLAFOPS, implemented this project. We are planning this project, which will start in 2026 and run for three years, with the aim of encouraging people to adopt good cardiovascular health practices, » said Gadiel Tsonyadzi, coordinator and project manager at PLAFOPS.

                                                       Coordinator and project manager at PLAFOPS

The discussion provided an opportunity to take stock of the collaboration, highlight the difficulties faced by the press, and formalize the media's vision by submitting a memorandum to the Ministry of Health and its technical and financial partners (TFPs).

« Health promotion is everyone's business. I would like to reiterate the Ministry of Health's commitment to supporting this initiative. We are listening carefully to all proposals and suggestions that will contribute to improving the health of our populations, » explained Victorien Banassim, Communications Advisor to the Ministry of Health.

                                                                               Partial image of the audience

The media outlets that are members of the platform are committed to producing programs, articles, visuals, and other materials to reach the population in a sustainable way.

Fabrice Petchezi, president of the Togolese Media Observatory (OTM), who was present at the meeting, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the capacities of journalists specializing in health. He also emphasized the diversity of the media involved in the platform (print, online, and audiovisual) and the need to mobilize adequate resources to ensure the campaign's effectiveness.

The implementation of this project will enable the media to better understand health issues in Togo.

Esther KOLANI