‘Trained journalists needed in scientific reporting’
A professor of Parasitology and Immunology at the University of Yaounde, Cameroun, Professor Rose Gana Fomban Leke, has advocated the need to train journalists in scientific reporting to enable them to drive the needed change in the society.
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She said the media had a crucial role in the elimination of infectious diseases from the African Continent because “they have a large audience and, therefore, have the potential to drive behavioural change.”
Speaking on the first day of the Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lecture at the University of Ghana, Professor Leke said the media could help to advocate increased funding and also contribute to the dissemination of successful interventions in a region.
She was speaking on the topic, “Eliminating infectious diseases: The remaining challenges.”
Effect of negative reportage
Professor Leke pointed out however, that negative reporting by the media had negative impacts.
“We all know that bad news travels fast, and rumours can be very damaging, especially when elimination efforts require collective activity,” Prof. Leke said.
She cited an instance when media reports in the UK that immunisation with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine caused autism led to the resurgence of measles in that country.
Professor Leke also said at least 65 per cent of the deaths in Africa were attributable to infectious diseases and cited some major diseases plaguing and eliminating precious resources in the continent as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections and conditions such as malnutrition and political instability.
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Resurgence
She warned of the possibility of the resurgence of a disease immediately it was completely eliminated and cited the control of malaria in Zanzibar as an example.
“This nation scaled up malaria control measures and in less than 10 years registered an almost malaria-free region. Reducing funding for malaria interventions by redeploying it to a different region immediately after its initial success has led to a resurgence of malaria outbreaks,” she pointed out.
Prof. Leke prescribed that in order to pursue the goal of eliminating malaria in Zanzibar, funding must be continued for an extended period of time, adding, “there is, therefore, no room for complacency during the end game.”
Success story
Touching on the successful elimination of smallpox, she said as early as 1967, 10 to 15 million new individuals were reported as being infected with the deadly and debilitating virus every year, and explained that the WHO and several partners launched a 10-year eradication programme that resulted in the elimination of the disease by 1980.
“Several factors contributed to the success of the programme: Universal political commitment, a definite goal, a precise timetable, well-trained staff and importantly, a flexible strategy,” Prof. Leke explained.
On mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, Prof. Leke told the audience that infants born by HIV-infected mothers could be cured. “These two infants were born by HIV-infected mothers and tested positive for HIV within a few hours. They were placed on anti-retroviral treatment and monitored frequently. They became free of the virus and have remained free up till this day, “ she said.