From August 27 to 29, 2024, the Ifakara Health Institute, in partnership with the Data Impact Program at Vital Strategies, US, hosted a three-day workshop titled "Conveying Information to the Media and Colleagues" at its conference facility in Arusha. 

This workshop gathered communication and information officers, along with statisticians from prominent government bodies and agencies engaged in vital statistics, including the Ministry of Health, the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Governments (PO-RALG), the Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), and the National Bureau of Statistics.

The central aim of the workshop was to enhance the participants' ability to effectively communicate health information within their organizations and to the wider media and public. The training was designed to improve communication professionals’ skills in understanding and discussing health data, identifying key messages, and conveying these messages to the appropriate audiences.

Workshop modules

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in various practical exercises, including drafting a one-page press release on a critical health issue and participating in a mock press conference. These activities provided valuable hands-on experience and deepened their understanding of how to translate complex health data into clear, actionable information. 

Collaboration with data experts was a crucial component of the training, allowing participants to refine their ability to manage media inquiries and link data to compelling narratives.

The workshop also focused on broader objectives, including articulating the benefits of timely and transparent communication and tailoring messages for different audiences. Attendees learned to apply communication models to health issues, develop clear communication objectives, and choose the most effective media and dissemination methods. Moreover, they gained skills in presenting supporting data and statistics in an understandable manner, troubleshooting potential communication challenges, and drafting frameworks for regular and timely communications.

Overall, the workshop was a resounding success, equipping participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance their public health communication efforts. By fostering skills in media management, data interpretation, and storytelling, the event aimed to support better transparency and effectiveness in health data dissemination.

Workshop facilitators

Experts who facilitated the workshop are: Colin Baynes – Principal Technical Advisor for the Data Impact Program and Lara Tabac – Director for Global Grants Program at the Vital Strategies; Gisbert Msigwa from Vital Strategies; Bilal Aziz – Head of Communications at the Ifakara Health Institute and Julius Massaga, Deputy Editor of the Tanzania Public Health Bulletin.

The Ifakara Health Institute and the Data Impact Program express their appreciation to all participants and partners for their commitment and contribution to the workshop’s success. This event highlighted the essential role of effective science communication in advancing public health initiatives and underscored the value of collaborative efforts in driving progress in health data communication.