Since the Corona-virus outbreak in January 2020, many countries have been affected, including in West Africa. In order to support preparedness measures in Guinea, the USAID-funded Breakthrough Action project initiated a workshop to strengthen the capacities of the media in health emergencies communication techniques. The two-day workshop was launched on Friday March 06, 2020 at the Riviera Royal Hotel in Conakry.

The objective was to provide training for at least 50 journalists from the public and private press on how to communicate in case of major health crises. The training equipped the media to disseminate fair, coherent and reliable information on health emergencies, thereby avoiding unjustified fear among public opinion.

Dr. Bouna Yattassaye, Deputy Director of the (ANSS) remarked: “When a health crisis occurs in a country following an epidemic, health officials must be ready to act but also to communicate. Communication has a direct influence on the turn that events can take. It can stir up public fears, but it can also encourage behaviors that help control the situation”.

This training is part of USAID’s Corona-virus prevention efforts in Guinea.