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Health is often considered secondary to economic growth in much of the developing world. It is not a subject on which elections are fought and won and rarely are there protest movements seeking better healthcare facilities. Women’s health ranks even lower on the priority list. During the COVID-19 pandemic the limitations of weak healthcare systems have been especially evident.
In the past year journalists have also faced the additional burden of developing pandemic literacy. In India and Pakistan, health remains an ignored issue. Pakistan ranked 88 out of 107 countries in the 2020 Global Hunger Index and India ranked 94. Both countries spend only about 1% of their GDP on public health, according to the World Bank, and both have high rates of infectious diseases like tuberculosis and high mortality rates of mothers and newborns. Climate change has burdened the already fragile public health system further.
Journalists from Karachi, Lahore, Srinagar, New Delhi and Lucknow will discuss the challenges of reporting on health in their countries; why this is often an ignored subject; and how conflict, often the single largest narrative, can overshadow public health. They will also share best practices in covering health and answer questions from the audience.
This webinar is part of the East-West Center's ongoing series of cross-border reporting programs for Indian and Pakistani journalists.
Speakers
- Biswajeet BANERJEE, Bureau Chief, The Pioneer, Lucknow @biswajeet01
- Abantika GHOSH, Senior Associate Editor, The Print, and Author, Billions Under Lockdown: The Inside Story of India's Fight against COVID-19, New Delhi @abantika77
- Anum HANIF, Senior Associate Producer, Express News, Lahore @_AnumHanif
- Sibte HASSAN, Health Reporter, Hum News, Karachi
- Safina NABI, Independent Journalist, Srinagar @soul_restlesss
Moderator
- Disha SHETTY, Independent Science Journalist, Pune
Click here for headshots and biographies.
Health is often considered secondary to economic growth in much of the developing world. It is not a subject on which elections are fought and won and rarely are there protest movements seeking better healthcare facilities. Women’s health ranks even lower on the priority list. During the COVID-19 pandemic the limitations of weak healthcare systems have been especially evident.
In the past year journalists have also faced the additional burden of developing pandemic literacy. In India and Pakistan, health remains an ignored issue. Pakistan ranked 88 out of 107 countries in the 2020 Global Hunger Index and India ranked 94. Both countries spend only about 1% of their GDP on public health, according to the World Bank, and both have high rates of infectious diseases like tuberculosis and high mortality rates of mothers and newborns. Climate change has burdened the already fragile public health system further.
Journalists from Karachi, Lahore, Srinagar, New Delhi and Lucknow will discuss the challenges of reporting on health in their countries; why this is often an ignored subject; and how conflict, often the single largest narrative, can overshadow public health. They will also share best practices in covering health and answer questions from the audience.
This webinar is part of the East-West Center's ongoing series of cross-border reporting programs for Indian and Pakistani journalists.
Speakers
- Biswajeet BANERJEE, Bureau Chief, The Pioneer, Lucknow @biswajeet01
- Abantika GHOSH, Senior Associate Editor, The Print, and Author, Billions Under Lockdown: The Inside Story of India's Fight against COVID-19, New Delhi @abantika77
- Anum HANIF, Senior Associate Producer, Express News, Lahore @_AnumHanif
- Sibte HASSAN, Health Reporter, Hum News, Karachi
- Safina NABI, Independent Journalist, Srinagar @soul_restlesss
Moderator
- Disha SHETTY, Independent Science Journalist, Pune
EWC Seminars Live
Designed for multinational journalists and informed audiences, EWC Seminars Live is a monthly webinar and briefing series that seeks to inform, connect, and source media stories.
