Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s top infectious killer. In 2017, 10 million people became ill with the disease and 1.6 million died. Each year, more than 3 million people with TB are left behind without effective treatment. Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is a public health crisis and a health security risk in many countries. Yet only one in seven people with DR-TB are being treated today. The global rate of decline of TB incidence—2% on average—is far short of targets established in WHO’s End TB Strategy. At the current rate of progress, the world will not be able to end TB align with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Cambodia is one of the 30 high TB burden countries with an estimated TB incidence of 287 out of every 100,000 populations and the mortality case is 17 out of 100,000 populations. These data have shown the decreased comparing to 2019 in which the incident rate was 302 out of 100,000. Annually, National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control (CENAT) has notified and reported approximately 30,000 TB cases under TB care, diagnosis, and treatment services nationwide. For example, in 2018 there were 28,464 TB notifications while in 2019 there were 30,148 and 28,757 in 2020, which is lower than the TB reported and notified case in 2019.
It is the time to call for immediate action to end TB, especially the key actors or influencing factors such as celebrities and journalists. They are not just to get engaged in TB-related platforms, but they need to take leading roles for TB interventions implementation such as key messages dissemination, advocacy efforts and joint hands for resources mobilization in TB works.
In addressing this particular public health issues, there is a need to widely involve from key partners and stakeholders including journalists and celebrities. While seeing less participation of these influencing factors and persons, CamboJA and KHANA have developed a joint workplan at aiming to increase meaningful engagement of journalists and play the critical roles in TB awareness raising amongst public and especially the key population. The joint effort will additionally enhance the advocacy initiatives in making sure TB is a top priority in the national health development agenda.
To build journalists’ capacity on TB understanding and awareness which leads to increase active engagement in TB works, CamboJA in consultation with KHANA under the Joint Work Plan on “Strengthening the Engagement of Journalists in TB Education and Advocacy in Cambodia” will organize a training on TB and Media Agent that takes place on 27-28 October 2021. The two-day online training will provide a TB development opportunity and space for 20 Cambodian journalists and media professionals especially those covering health beat to enhance their health journalism skills and knowledge of TB and related issues in public health sector.
Main Focuses of the Training
Eligibility Criteria
Expected Outcomes
This online training course will be delivered in Khmer language.
Interested journalists are invited to register via https://forms.office.com/r/1MhZaEqknN
Deadline: 15th October 2021
Female journalists and provincial journalists are strongly encouraged to apply.
For more details, please contact:
Ms. Ly You Y, Capacity Development Manager
010 652 318