A training on the "One Health" approach for fourteen Cambodian journalists
Related project
Media for One healthFourteen Cambodian journalists have explored the "One Health" scientific approach to enhance their coverage of environmental and health issues.
From July 29 to August 2, CFI conducted a training session for 14 Cambodian journalists utilizing the "One Health" scientific framework, as part of the Media for One Health project. This approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of three key areas: human health, animal health, and the environment, addressing critical issues such as emerging disease risks, antibiotic resistance, pesticide impacts, and threats from deforestation.
Cambodia faces significant challenges related to these issues. However, they remain poorly understood by both the public and the journalists trained by CFI, despite their expertise in health and environmental reporting. Collaborating with scientific experts from CIRAD and trainers from the Cambodian media outlet Thmey Thmey, this training equipped Cambodian journalists with a deeper understanding of this approach and its significance in effectively tackling complex issues. The group also benefited from the involvement of Professor Chea Bunna from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Royal University of Agriculture, who is also a member of the One Health University Network of Cambodia (CAMBOHUN).
This training was designed to be as interactive as possible, promoting a professional exchange between the media sector and the scientific community. Several external speakers were invited to share their insights and experiences regarding the "One Health" approach, including Dr. Thai Savuth, Director of the Prevention and Control Bureau within the Communicable Disease Control Department, at the Cambodian Ministry of Health. To further enrich their understanding of the "One Health" ecosystem in Cambodia, they concluded with a visit to the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh.
The goal was to provide journalists with a comprehensive overview of how this approach is implemented in Cambodia by both authorities and NGOs, as well as research centres, to facilitate studies, plan public policies, and carry out prevention and awareness initiatives. Special attention was given to how journalists can effectively communicate these issues to the public.
This initiative will continue with future training sessions on interview techniques and mobile journalism, scheduled for the fall of 2024. These sessions aim to enhance journalists' abilities to transform complex scientific information into accessible and engaging content, thereby promoting widespread dissemination to the public.
