Sex up health issues, media told

A FORMER media practitioner has encouraged Namibian newspapers to refrain from sensational coverage and to rather focus on informative and educational reporting.

Hardap Regional Council Chief Regional Officer (CRO) James Sankwasa was speaking at the official opening of a three-day Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) training workshop for media practitioners in the Karas and Hardap regions at Mariental on Wednesday. Sankwasa said health issues deserved greater coverage, as health was a basic need for every individual.He described sensational coverage as one of the traditional modes of reporting which were not always helpful and constructive.The CRO also urged media professionals to commit themselves to effective reporting on SRH issues, both national and international.Sankwasa said that the Hardap Region is neglected by the media.The Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA), established in 1996 as a voluntary, non-governmental organisation, facilitated the workshop.It was aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of journalists on Sexual and Reproductive Health issues to correct common myths in the communities at large.Government officials, reporters from The Namibian, Nampa and the NBC attended the training workshop that was funded by Family Federation of Finland.Sankwasa said health issues deserved greater coverage, as health was a basic need for every individual.He described sensational coverage as one of the traditional modes of reporting which were not always helpful and constructive.The CRO also urged media professionals to commit themselves to effective reporting on SRH issues, both national and international.Sankwasa said that the Hardap Region is neglected by the media.The Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA), established in 1996 as a voluntary, non-governmental organisation, facilitated the workshop.It was aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of journalists on Sexual and Reproductive Health issues to correct common myths in the communities at large.Government officials, reporters from The Namibian, Nampa and the NBC attended the training workshop that was funded by Family Federation of Finland.