By Kenneth Wamatoyi
JINJA
Journalists in Busoga are trading their pens for prescription pads – of sorts – as they launch a health education initiative with medical professionals to tackle rampant health myths.
Under their umbrella Busoga Health Press Group, journalists organized a one-day health camp on Monday, 14th April, 2025 at Busoga Kingdom Headquarters in Bugembe, Jinja City, targeting pregnant mothers to address pregnancy-related health issues.
The group also launched monthly health education press briefings where health experts will address the media on various health matters to sensitize the community and promote accurate information.
Dr. Andrew Balyeku, Busoga Kingdom’s Minister for Health, who presided over the events emphasized, “Journalists must collaborate with medical personnel to address health misinformation and save lives.”
The Kyabazinga minister was pleased with the journalists’ initiative of putting the focus on health reporting, stressing that the beat would significantly impact the Busoga community with healthy residents.
According to him, local residents are influenced with traditional myths about some diseases which he said can cause harm to many. He encouraged people to put trust in professional medical workers instead of self-medication and traditional norms.
Dr. Alfred Yayi, Director of Jinja Regional Hospital, commended journalists for taking the lead in educating communities on health, urging mothers to “always prioritize going to health facilities for medical attention instead of resorting to traditional remedies.”
Dr. Yayi told journalists that Jinja hospital needs maternal services as about 530 deliveries are registered in a month at the regional health facility. “Jinja hospital is a very busy place when it comes to handling mothers and there are a lot of needs in terms of infrastructure, staffing and creating awareness,” said Dr. Yayi.
Dr. Yayi revealed that there is a lot of teenage pregnancies which come with a lot of risks and many young mothers get complications. To address such issue, the hospital Chief said “We are not working alone as a government, we are working with partnerships and the press plays a key role when it comes to creating awareness.”
Julius Mukasa, Director of Busoga Health Press Group, said, “Health should be a priority for everyone to ensure a healthy future.”
He added that journalists are committed to educating their audience through their media platforms to drive positive change.
The health camp and press briefings initiative aims to combat widespread health myths and misconceptions in the region, promoting accurate health information and better health outcomes for communities.
Meanwhile, the health camp which attracted several expectant mothers and others was organized in celebration of a birthday of a seasoned radio sports host at Baba FM Nicholas Kalanzi, who said his birth week is marked with extending special aid to mothers.
“This is the fifth time I organize health camps in celebration of my birthday. I can’t go to bars to spend money when our mothers don’t have mother kits,” said Kalanzi.
Expectant mothers who received mother kits and other items, benefited in several health treatments. Health experts came from Kyabirwa surgical center, Uganda Institute of Health Professionals led the treatment of cancer, pressure, malaria and HIV/AIDS among others.
