Twenty students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Medicine and Dentistry have completed a course in medical journalism with the Multimedia Group.
This follows a Memorandum of Understanding between the Multimedia Group and the KNUST, under the initiative of the leadership of the School of Medicine and Dentistry to train medical students in health journalism.
It has been 14 months since the signing of the MOU between the Multimedia Group Limited and the KNUST School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The students underwent rigorous training in broadcast journalism, feature writing, data journalism, science/technology/health journalism, photo and video journalism, audio and video editing among others.
General Manager of Multimedia Group Kumasi unit, James Aglah was hopeful the graduands will help to strengthen the Group’s health desk. He also assured of continuous training of the graduands. “The collaboration is meant to strengthen health news reporting. It is expected this would positively impact the lives of the people and sanitize the health journalism atmosphere in Ghana and beyond. “The Health news desk is one of the integral news desks, ensuring audience are served with accurate and current health information. “We will continue to organize in-service training for you to ensure you are abreast of the latest trends in journalism,” he said.
The President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Frank Ankobea lauded the initiative. He believes their expertise will positively impact Ghana’s public health system. “I’m sure you will be committed to improving public health through journalism. Having you as medical journalists, the landscape for the media space will change completely in Ghana where Medicine is concerned,” he said.
The board Chair of the National Health Insurance Authority and Foundation faculty member, Dr. Ernest Kwarko, is hopeful the initiative will permeate other disciplines. “I think journalism opens the space for many collaborations. We can have legal journalism. Once you make journalism a constant, all other professional doors can be opened for specific reportage,” he said.
Dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, KNUST, Prof. Daniel Ansong revealed the introduction of the programme to other students in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. “We’re planning not to wait until the final year of medical studies to start this training but rather engage students in 3rd and 4th years so it can be done in a relaxed manner,” he said.
He says the University is discussing the possibility of launching a Master’s degree in Medical Journalism in the near future.
One of the graduands, Emmanuella Osei-Tutu was enthralled by the experience. “It hasn’t been the usual rotations we’re used to, but it has been eye-opening into the world of journalism and its effect on society,” she said.
The ceremony saw eleven female and nine male medical students presented with certificates.
