Committed journalists – World Health Youth Environment and Health Communication Network (WHYEHCN) members from 15 countries met in Bonn (Germany) within the final High-level preparatory meeting of 53 WHO member states’ representatives which was held in Bonn, April 27-29 for the 5th European Ministerial conference on environment and health to be held in Parma (Italy) in 2010.
Journalists took advantage in Bonn meeting participating and thus taking part in their countries’ work on improvement of healthcare systems and environment protection. WHO Regional office for Europe together with partner-agencies selected and trained journalists specializing in environment and health issues from European countries, including Uzbekistan aiming at covering and monitoring the progress in their countries in terms of achieving key goals on water, air, chemicals and climate change which will become a central focus of the 5th Ministerial conference on environment and health in Parma. The purpose of the WHYEHCN workshop is to catalyze the involvement of young journalists into the European Environment and Health process. In so doing it develops capacity, enhances coverage and builds a sustainable independent network to promote dialogue on environmental and health issues.
"The second WHY meeting in Bonn last week significantly advanced the network's development,“ Franklin Apfel, Managing Director of the World Health Communication Associates, the supervisor of the workshop says. “The good "chemistry" between participants created an exciting and productive learning and sharing atmosphere. A number of potential collaborative projects and cross border support activities were identified. Active engagement in these activities will strengthen each particpant's capacity to inform their readers, viewers, audiences about actions that can and should be taken to better protect themselves and their communities from environmental threats related to air quality, water safety,chemicals, injuries and climate change. WHY journalists learned about how best to take advantage of their privileged access to cross-border expert information and experience and most importantly to the like-minded colleagues from other WHO Europe countries at the meeting."
“WHY Network workshop gave me another chance to improve my both journalistic and personal skills,“ Bakhrom Tuychiev, WHY member from Uzbekistan, senior specialist, Department of monitoring and analysis of TV and Radio programs of National TV&Radio company of Uzbekistan noted. “I've experienced a good chance of professional exchange with people all over the european region. Broad variety of ideas, proposals served as the motivation for rising the level of my self dedication to health and environment issues.“
Another WHY Network participant Erveina Bashuri, who manages the youth NGO “Let’s get started” in Albania says as follows: “The WHY workshop was very fruitful for me as it gave me the opportunity to hear different points of view according to young journalists and environmental&health journalism. Also the creation of network will help us to keep in touch and make future cooperation."
Reference: WHYEHCN was established in autumn, 2008. WHO/Europe, with the assistance of World Health Communication Associates, supports the
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