Unicef bats for better health reporting in India

New Delhi, (IANS) To sensitize media students with public health reporting skills, Unicef India, in partnership with Oxford University, held a three-month long awareness and skill development programme in Delhi for the first time in India.   Forty students of premier media institute Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) finished the course here, currently offered to public health professionals in Britain.   On the importance of the programme, Sunil Arora, secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting said: "... it would have a visionary impact on reportage leading to more evidence-based coverage of crucial subjects such as public health and related development issues."  

Louis-Georges Arsenault, Unicef's country representative said: "Our consultations with media and journalism schools across the country gave us key insights on the need to make a valuable yet simple course which enables a scientific and evidence-based approach to reporting public health issues, especially those concerning child survival."   The IIMC customised and piloted the course at its campus in Delhi, over a period of three months.