Turkmenistan media participate in UNICEF and WHO organized briefing on risk communication

Organized online by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), and facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the briefing aimed at raising awareness of reporters and editors on the effective ways of communicating messages on pandemic prevention and healthy behaviours to the general public. During the event participants also learned about UNICEF’s best practices on messaging and reporting, such as airing on the national TV of the videos and animation series on hygiene promotion developed in partnership with Turkmenistan’s State Committee on Radio and Television Broadcasting and Cinematography.

Opening the event Christine Weigand, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan stated that “…one of the key challenges for communicating risk effectively is to be able to identify the different target audiences and the specific ways of communication and types of messages which would help people to be more conscious of the risks of infection and to adopt the right preventive behaviours.”

UNICEF Representative invited media representatives to share views and ideas on how to increase the reach of important health promotion messages and what additional content UNICEF and media could develop to keep children and families safe and healthy.

WHO’s Head of the Office Paulina Karwowska also shared opening remarks. The WHO national expert briefed reporters on the origins of COVID-19, global statistics on pandemic and WHO’s response actions and support to the Government of Turkmenistan on pandemic prevention.

UNICEF and WHO plan to hold information and capacity building sessions for media on a regular basis as part of the Country Preparedness and Response Plan of Turkmenistan.