DUSHANBE, 19.11.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – The three-day educational seminar entitled “Role of Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic” for journalists and press officers began yesterday in Dushanbe.

The seminar is initiated by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population within the framework of the “Project for Emergency Response to COVID-19 in Tajikistan,” implemented by the government. The executive partner of the seminar is the Public Health Association of Tajikistan (PHAT).

PHAT Director Rustam Tursunov explained that the main goal of the seminar is to raise awareness about COVID-19 and train media representatives to provide objective and reliable information.

“Trainings help increase the communication potential of employees of the press services of ministries and departments for further effective interaction with the population,” he noted.

Head of the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Safety for Emergency Situations and Emergency Medical Aid of the Ministry of Health Navruz Jafarov noted that information about vaccination will also be discussed at the seminar.

“Today, vaccination is one of the ways to contain the spread of COVID-19, not only in Tajikistan, but throughout the world. We expect that media representatives will meet halfway with government officials, in particular the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, and will correctly inform the population about the importance of vaccination. We hope that journalists will help create dialogues on the prevention of COVID-19 at a professional level,” he added.

Jafarov stated that the health and well-being of every member of society depends on the successful implementation of the vaccination campaign.

The opening of the seminar was also attended by the First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population Ghafur Mukhsinzoda, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population Abdukholik Amirzoda, and the Manager of the “Project for Emergency Response to COVID-19 in Tajikistan” Jamshed Karimov.