Turkmenistan media participate in briefing on messaging for parents during pandemic

The briefing for reporters and editors-in-chief focused on disseminating messages for parents in the context of the pandemic, and specifically, on how to communicate with children and help them adjust to a new reality. Media representatives also learned about the recently issued UNICEF and WHO guidance on reopening of schools.

Based on international experience, media representatives were encouraged to report global COVID-19 related issues without using stigmatizing language and focusing on the positive stories of people recovering from the disease.

“Media play an important role in promoting health and hygiene messages to the population, parents and children. We’ve been partnering with media, and specifically, the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography of Turkmenistan on developing video spots and animation series on hygiene. We look forward to expanding our partnership with national media to deliver important messages to ensure the health and wellbeing of Turkmenistan’s children during the pandemic and beyond,” said Christine Weigand, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan.

Prior to the media briefing, UNICEF Representative had a meeting with the Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan responsible for culture and media and the Head of the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography where both sides committed to collaboratively developing new programmes for children and parents on pandemic prevention, early childhood development and other priorities under the new country programme of cooperation between UNICEF and Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.