USAID AMPATH Uzima, in collaboration with the County Health Promotion Office (HPO), recently conducted a two-day media training workshop to enhance health communication and boost community engagement. The program aimed to equip journalists and county health officers with strategies to improve service uptake and foster behavior change.  

The workshop focused on reviewing Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) plans and USAID AMPATH Uzima’s media engagement guidelines. Key discussions highlighted gaps in current health messaging and identified polio vaccination and World AIDS Day as priority initiatives for collaborative efforts this month.  

To streamline health advocacy, the HPO announced plans to launch a dedicated WhatsApp platform for real-time updates and coordination between journalists and health officials. This initiative seeks to ensure cohesive messaging and rapid dissemination of health information.  

A central theme of the training was the importance of male engagement in health programs. Strategies for increasing male participation were discussed, with insights shared from a recorded interview with the HPO team.  

Participants, including journalists, expressed their commitment to empowering communities with impactful health messaging. They pledged to use their platforms to support polio vaccination drives and raise awareness for World AIDS Day, ensuring timely and effective communication to inspire positive health practices.