Enhance support towards science, Govt told

GOVERNMENT should scale up its support towards science communication and advocacy campaigns across the country, says DZIWA Science and Technology Trust (DSaT).

DSaT Executive Director, Veronica Mwaba, said key sectors of the economy were anchored on science, hence the need for Government to support the private sectors on the score.

Ms Mwaba said it was encouraging that Governments and research institutions had placed the fight against the Covid-19 as central to save humans.

She was speaking in Kitwe.

“Today, countries rely on local expertise to identify, treat and avert Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Linking Science Society to Better Lives (LSSBL) project will bring together, researchers, science journalists, academia, NGO’s, public and key industry players to highlight the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, current scientific research and its relevance to society,” she said.

Ms Mwaba said the need to orient journalists to report on public health effectively.

She said the media had a huge task and remained a critical source of information dissemination and education to bridge the knowledge gap in public engagement.

Ms Mwaba observed that the new corona virus was intricate and a health concern that required journalists to take keen interest in gender to allow active participation by both males and females regardless of their standing in society to tell their stories on health issues.

She said without leaving anyone behind, the LSSBL project will endeavor to collaborate with researchers, and partners taking care of marginalised groups on communication interventions to address the needs on health related issues.

Ms Mwaba added that the organisation through the project would support other journalists from the rural areas to access virtual training on Covid-19 and Public Health.