NHM claims fall in materl and infant mortality rates

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 3: An editors’ meet on ‘building up of strategy for developmental reporting on health issues’ on was held in the city at a workshop organized by tiol Health Mission (NHM), Assam today.

NHM Mission director Dr. P Ashok Babu, delivering the address note, said that sometimes there is a big difference between the reported facts and actual perception. He viewed that there has been a steep fall in materl mortality rate and infant mortality rate in the state currently. He further said that media reports on dengue mece in the state were sometimes not appropriate and reports on technical issues would help in chalking out plans.

NHM Assam Executive Director Dr AC Baishya addressed the gathering on combating misinterpretation in health issues which was followed by an interactive session with media persons.

Tezpur University Mass Communication Associate Professor Dr Abhijit Borah explained about developing effective communication on health and social care.

Gauhati University Department of Communication and Jourlism Associate Professor Dr Ankuran Dutta addressed the gathering on the needs of positive and developmental reporting on health issues. He said that it is important to cross check medical explations with professiols before publishing news. Dutta viewed that culturally and socially accepted words should be used in the stories on health issues.

Dutta stressed the need for media reports on pressing issues of society like social security of aged people and the importance of community radio in society.  NHM behaviour change communication expert delivered a speech on effective approaches to social and behaviour change communication.

NHM Mission Director Dr. P. Ashok Babu, editors of dailies and news channels based in Guwahati and others took part in the meet.