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ESAR RCCE Media Dialogues: Monkeypox – What Journalists Need to Know
August 17, 2022 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
On 23 July 2022, WHO’s Director-General determined that the multi-country outbreak of Monkeypox constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. As of August 10, more than 80 countries where Monkeypox is not endemic had reported outbreaks of the viral disease, as confirmed cases crossed 31,400 and non-endemic countries reported their first deaths.
For journalists, it is important to be aware of what the Monkeypox outbreak means for public health, and what must be done to prevent infections and care for those who are ill. Journalists must also be aware of the stigma attached to Monkeypox and the importance of patient rights in handling this health crisis.
This event welcomes the following experts to cover all angles:
Dr. Otim Patrick Cossy Ramadan, Health Emergency Officer, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster, WHO in Brazzaville
Brian Kanyemba, Managing Director HIV Prevention & Technical Advisor Advocacy for Prevention for HIV/AIDS
Michael Gwarisa, award winning health journalist and Editor of HealthTimes, a leading online health news publication in Zimbabwe.
Sergio Cecchini, Infodemic Manager at the World Health Organization’s Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA).
Memorable Quotes from this event:
“If you see in Africa now, despite us being the 3rd in terms of disease burden, we have not yet vaccinated any person in Africa. But we are working with countries to get ready to develop the necessary regulatory approval in the event the vaccine becomes available – they can be available for use for high-risk groups and for their contacts.”
– Dr. Otim Patrick Cossy Ramadan, Health Emergency Officer, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster, World Health Organization in Brazzaville
“If we bring Monkeypox as a gay disease, the governments of the African continent won’t work around it. We have learned this from HIV epidemiology, especially on the prevention scenario……we need to give the communities the real information….when the first case came out in South Africa, it was about demonizing, dehumanizing gay men and men who have sex with men……one thing we need to know is anyone can be affected by Monkeypox, the numbers are growing, and it includes other people who are not gay men or men who have sex with men.”
– Brian Kanyemba, Managing Director and HIV Prevention Technical Advisor with Advocacy for Prevention of HIV/AIDS
