Installed on August 22nd in Maroua, the new regional team of the Association of Scientific Journalists and Communicators for the Promotion of Health intends to strengthen scientific journalism and health communication in the Far North.
The regional office of the Association of Science Journalists and Communicators for Health Promotion (AJC-ProSanté) is now officially established in the Far North region. The ceremony took place on August 22nd in Maroua, in the presence of administrative authorities, association officials, and several media professionals.
Representing the governor of the Far North region, William Bandibeno officially installed the new office. On this occasion, the representative of the administrative authority urged the team members to demonstrate responsibility, professionalism, and commitment in carrying out their duties.
In a region where health challenges remain numerous, the role of the media appears particularly important. Vaccination, disease prevention, maternal and child health, nutrition, universal health coverage, and the fight against epidemics are all subjects that require reliable, accessible, and rigorously verified information.
For the authorities, journalists and communicators must contribute to a better understanding of health issues among the public. Professional handling of health information should, in particular, help combat rumors and misinformation, which are especially amplified by social media.
Present in Maroua for this ceremony, the national president of AJC-ProSanté, Flavien Ndongo, first expressed his gratitude to the administrative authorities and to all the actors who contributed to the installation of this new regional team.
For him, the establishment of the Far North office represents an important step for the development of science and health journalism in the region. It should allow for better organization of professionals interested in these fields and foster greater collaboration between the media, healthcare professionals, researchers, and institutions.
The national president emphasizes one fundamental requirement: fact-checking. In the scientific and health fields, he explains, journalists must not rush to publish information whose reliability has not been established.
A science journalist takes the time to verify information before publishing it. They must research sources, compare data, consult specialists, and ensure the accuracy of the information gathered. This approach is all the more necessary given that health issues directly affect the lives and well-being of populations.
At the helm of the newly established regional office, Joël Maman intends to focus his term on professionalization and community engagement. The new regional president of AJC-ProSanté, who is also a journalist with the Sopecam agency in the Far North, is fully aware of the importance of the mission entrusted to him.
His main challenge will be to make AJC-ProSanté a reference framework for journalists and communicators interested in scientific and health issues in the region.
The new regional president also wants to develop more collaborations with healthcare facilities, researchers, public administrations, civil society organizations, and partners in the health sector. This approach should allow the media to better understand health issues and explain them more clearly to the public.
Beyond simply covering health activities, the ambition is to promote in-depth journalism, capable of popularizing scientific knowledge and giving significant attention to community concerns.
The new regional office of AJC-ProSanté is placed under the honorary presidency of Dr Hamadou Bava, Regional Delegate of the Ministry of Public Health for the Far North.
It is headed by Joël Maman, president, with Michaël Doppas as vice-president. Samuel Adjewa serves as secretary general, while Abakar Ali is deputy secretary general. Job Nganadako is in charge of communications.
The position of censor goes to Mbombo Castor. Amina Djibrila serves as treasurer. The auditors are Abali Abdou and Djafarou Ousmaila.
Three advisors complete this team: Bakari Galdima, Francine Djabba and Hamadou Abdoulkarim.
