Dow University of Health Sciences-Vice Chancellor Prof. Masood Hameed Khan said that Media can play an effective role in increasing awareness about health issues of public health significance. In order to achieve this goal proper understanding of issues by media personal is very important. He also announced that DUHS would give computer and technical training to the children of health journalists which would help them in building their future career.
He expressed these views while speaking as a Chief Guest at a Certificate Distribution Ceremony of First Introductory Short Course for Health Journalists (ISC-HJ) today at Arag Auditorium of Dow Medical College, Karachi. Introductory Short Course for Health Journalists is a capacity building course from a series of short courses for health journalists being offered by Dow University of Health Sciences in collaboration with Association of Health Journalists Pakistan (AHJP).
He further said that DUHS as a part of its social responsibility is providing computer and various technical training to the children of the University’s faculty members and as well as other Universities. For the first time in Pakistan, DUHS introduce this course for health journalists to enhance their professional skills to report on health issues. This effort will later benefit general public in creating awareness and giving them scientific evidence based news through media.
Secretary Health, Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi in his address congratulated the participants of the Course. He also appreciated the efforts of Vice Chancellor-DUHS Prof. Hameed Khan and his faculty members in the establishment and the developments of the University.
Giving the welcome address on the occasion, Prof. M. Umer Farooq, Pro-Vice Chancellor, DUHS &Principal-DMC said that health reporting is not an easy job and media has to play its role by creating awareness among the masses. He said that raising the quality of public health and medical reporting is one of the aims of this course along with developing a deeper understanding of health sciences in the journalists who will also develop the skills to quickly identify the great uncovered stories in public health properly analyze and accurately report the important health issues.
Dr. Saleem Ilyas, Director, Professional Development Centre-DUHS giving the introduction of the course said that this Certificate Course for health journalist was initiated in order to enhance the journalists’ professional skills. He further said that health reporting is different from general reporting and as such, journalists required to have more knowledge and a good pool of relevant terminologies and well researched facts.
Other who spoke on the occasion includes Mossa Kalim, General Secretary-Press Club; Hassan Abbas of KUJ, Tahir Nizami of Express and Tufail Ahmed, President-AHJP.
The program concluded with vote of thanks by General Secretary –AHJP Akhter Shaheen Rind and Certificate distribution among the participants of the Course.