The Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and JHPIEGO, has held a media exchange programme in Tamale to highlight the critical role of information, collaboration, and trust in strengthening health systems.
The engagement underscored the importance of partnerships between health stakeholders and the media in promoting accurate information, encouraging positive health behaviours, and empowering communities. It was noted that the media serves as a vital bridge in translating complex health information into accessible knowledge that builds public confidence and supports effective service delivery.
The Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Coordinator at the Northern Regional Health Directorate, Dr. Joyce Amoah, speaking on behalf of the Regional Director of Health Services, commended the media for their continued support. She emphasized that strong health systems rely not only on a capable workforce but also on effective communication that ensures communities understand and trust available health services. She added that information shared must be clear, factual, and empowering, and also acknowledged partners for their sustained support in strengthening screening, treatment, and referral systems in the region.
The Country Director for JHPIEGO, Dr. Pearl Nanka-Bruce, in her remarks, stressed that a strong health system requires effective health communication. She noted that health interventions can only succeed when people understand the services available to them and trust the information they receive. Without this trust and understanding, she said, even well-designed health programmes may not achieve their intended impact. She further emphasized the role of the media in supporting health workers to deliver essential services and ensuring that communities are informed, engaged, and empowered to make appropriate health decisions. She concluded by encouraging continued collaboration to ensure that critical health information reaches every community and contributes to improved health outcomes.
As part of the training, participants were also taken through a range of projects being implemented by JHPIEGO in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service. These include the MaNucare Project (which looks at Maternal and Newborn Health), the BEAT Project (which tackles Breast Cancer), and the RISE Project (which deals with Pandemic Preparedness and Health Security).
The workshop further provided in-depth training on the media’s role in promoting responsive, accurate, and responsible health communication, particularly in the context of public health emergencies and routine health reporting.
Facilitators further encouraged journalists to serve as strong advocates for public health by leveraging their platforms to educate, inform, and empower communities with credible and timely information, while supporting ongoing health interventions and national health campaigns. They also emphasized the need for sustained and proactive media engagement as a key driver of public awareness, behavioural change, and improved health outcomes, noting that consistent, ethical, and well-informed reporting can significantly contribute to building public trust and strengthening the overall health system.