At a recent round-table, officials emphasised the media’s role in building community trust, sharing critical health information, and improving access to local clinics and hospitals across the district.
Ekurhuleni Health District held a media engagement round-table to strengthen communication with the media to give communities access to its facilities and local health services.
According to the Ekurhuleni Health District communication officer Thobeka Makhubela, the session aimed at engaging the management of various hospitals around Ekurhuleni to make them aware of the importance of strengthening relations with the media for the benefit of the communities around the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE). Addressing guests during the session, Makhubela pointed out the crucial role of the media in educating communities.
“The media helps us to convey information in times of crisis, sharing stories of ordinary individuals who have benefited from our health services and we can collaborate with media companies in our awareness campaigns,” said Makhubela.
She added their relationship with local media companies must be solid and held in high esteem for the benefit of the communities they serve.
“Whenever the media needs information, they should be able to get it from us without fail. Remember, messages cannot reach the public without the media, because people read newspapers and listen to local radio stations whenever they want to get important information about their communities,” explained Makhubela.
Acting CEO at Telle Mogoerane Hospital, Bongikosi Shongwe, who was among the speakers during the session, said the role of the media is to bridge the gap between the health department and the community.
“The media also has a responsibility not to publish any story about the Department of Health, without fact-checking it,” said Shongwe.
He added the media sometimes does more harm than good when they publish stories without getting comments from the health department.
“We plead with the media to always report issues truthfully and accurately. Today we are building that relationship, for the media to have easy access to health officials,” expressed Shongwe.
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The Ekurhuleni District Health Department acting chief director Simon Choma said the media must direct enquiries about the 93 clinics in the Ekurhuleni Health District to the City of Ekurhuleni.
“The 16 clinics that run for 24 hours belong to Gauteng Department of Health and the 77 normal clinics managed by the CoE. If there are any problems at these normal clinics, the enquiries should be directed to the CoE.
“There are three sub-districts that form the Ekurhuleni Health District – east, south and north,” Choma, explained.
He added there are hospitals in all the sub-districts.
“The regional hospitals in the Ekurhuleni Health District are Tambo Memorial Hospital, Telle Mogoerane, Pholosong Hospital and the Far East Rand Hospital. These hospitals also provide medical services to rape and GBV victims,” Choma concluded.
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