International Convention Center Durban, 21 November 2008, 11 African
journalists present during third Conference of Parties (COP3) held a meeting to
put in place and a group of African anti-tobacco journalist.
The main idea behind this meeting was a reflection on the setting up of
a framework of African journalists who could enforce the efforts of FCA in
their struggle to control tobacco in the world and Africa in particular.
At the start of the discussion, Tih Armstrong Ntiabang, a free lance
from Cameroon took the floor to remind participants of the devastating effects
of tobacco in the world particularly in African countries. It is because of
this that we, journalists and communication experts have the duty to work in
synergy in order to boost the fight against tobacco. He went further to say
that in order to prevent the
population from being enticed by the generous mask worn by the tobacco
industries, journalists and communication experts are faced by the challenge to
develop communication strategies on anti-tobacco that will reach the general
public and this can only be done through networking and harmonization of our
efforts.
Raphaël
KIBAMBE Journalist from the RDC pointed out that meeting here at COP3 is a
unique opportunity for us to form a network to better relay information on
tobacco control to the masses who are the number one victims of this “killer
industry”.
“Tobacco
control is not an issue in most of our countries. There are no statistics of
tobacco deaths in our hospitals…difficult to access information on tobacco,
there is no guarantee that our media organs are 100% determined to crush down
the tobacco industry…” says Linda NYONDO from Zambia. According to her, the
idea of setting up such a coalition is very pertinent as it will enable us to
exchange reliable information on tobacco amongst ourselves.
Discussions
turned around the tobacco industry certain giving “underground subventions” to
some media organs in our countries. This makes it almost impossible for some
journalists to place the “rotten fish on the table” for fear to lose their
jobs.
Charles Ligan
from Benin insisted on the social responsibility of journalists. “Journalists
from every part of the world have a fundamental role to play in informing,
educating and sensitizing the population on the effects of tobacco and on the
WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control…” As an adding to what the others
have said, he emphasized on the fact that this thematic group of journalists
will help exchange experiences and enforce the work of FCA and other
anti-tobacco organizations such as the American Cancer Society, ATCRI etc.
Reflecting on the nature of such a coalition,
some suggested the formation of an executive committee but others held that it
is better to start with a limited secretariat who will be in charge of
coordinating the “future” activities of the coalition. This led to a collective
nomination of Tih Armstrong Ntiabang to coordinate the activities with the
assistance of Radha RANGASAMY journalist
from Mauritius Island. Criteria for their nomination were: Bilingualism (French
and English), Initiators of the idea, and willingness to be committed to
coordinate the activities. Charles Ligan
was the third person who appointed to join the two in the coordination of
activities.
Below is the vision, global
objectives and specific objectives of the coalition:
Vision: An Africa informed on the
harmful effects of tobacco and lures of tobacco industries
Global objectives: promote public health through information, education and communication for
behavioral change
Specific Objectives:
- Help each other on current tobacco issues (seek
advice from experts, )
- Support NGOs and other anti-tobacco advocates in
Africa in their communication strategies
- Monitor the implementation of the framework
convention on tobacco control in our various countries
- Capacity building for journalist in the treatment
of information, information research, publishing on anti tobacco and other
related issues
- Investigate on the maneuvers (tricks) of tobacco
industries
- Agglomerate articles, efforts, TV-Radio
programmes (communication tools) produced on anti-tobacco
- Offer communication services to organizations
willing to relay information on anti-tobacco e.g. collaborate with
existing organizations (FCA, ATCRI, ACS etc.) in their anti-tobacco
efforts
- Information exchange amongst ourselves
- Equip journalists with the necessary tools for
their effective communication of tobacco control related issues
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