Somaliland Civil Society Network for SUN Holds Training on Nutrition Reporting

By: MoDuale

Somaliland’s media has been given a much-needed boost in terms of its interest in and awareness of nutrition issues affecting the country, following a two-day workshop organised by Somaliland Civil Society Network for Scaling-Up Nutrition (SLCSN-SUN)

SLCSN-SUN’s efforts to raise media awareness were inspired by global social impact activities carried out by the SUN Movement.

Khadar, Executive Director of ANPPCAN-SOM and Chairperson of SLCSN-SUN speaking during the opening of the two days training said “This workshop is intended to increase the nutritional status of children in Somaliland. Our ultimate expectation is to sustain the health and nutritional status of the children in Somaliland to attain full health physically and mentally. The Ministry of Health of Development strives to enhance the nutritional status and reduce malnutrition among the community in Somaliland. Additionally, a continuation of training like this is essential.”

Somaliland is a country with a high burden of malnutrition, SLCSN-SUN recognized how important media communications are to reaching communities to address the underlying causes of undernutrition and at the same time to influence decision-makers.

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Mr. Mohamed Muse Diriye, Somaliland Minister of Information and National Guidance urged the journalists to participate in the two-day training should take their role to inform general public of  malnutrition said

“The cycle of malnutrition begins from the mothers. This, in turn, leads children to less resistant to various diseases. Therefrom, the media should take their role in informing the general public of malnutrition by inviting scholars and experts on nutrition.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Mohamoud Jama Ahmed, chairman of SOLJA has proposed journalists to avoid politics and cover social stories “The prevalence of malnutrition remains very high in Somaliland, thus media should release information on malnutrition. The media currently give much importance to politics rather than malnutrition and nutrition related information.”

To put nutrition higher on the public and political agenda, SLCSN-SUN made media awareness and capacity building one of its main priorities. SLCSN had previously developed communications materials specifically for the media – but found they were not understood or used properly. Lack of understanding among media professionals of nutrition issues and awareness of the scale of malnutrition meant there was little coverage in the country’s media.

Strengthening capacity on nutrition

SLCSN-SUN’s Capacity Building Workshop on Nutrition Reporting aimed to strengthen the capacities of media professionals (journalists and editors), including public relations and communications experts working in government, to ensure they understand and accurately report on nutrition-related stories – and to push nutrition higher up the news agenda.

SLCSN-SUN, in partnership with the Ministry of Information and National Guidance, organized a two-day training session on nutrition in Hargeisa in September 2019. The main purpose was to improve participants’ knowledge of nutrition issues, in particular around the child and maternal nutrition.

Journalists from a range of media houses took part, as well as public relations and communications professionals working in government. There were representatives from leading media firms as well as associations such as Somaliland Journalist Association (SOLJA) and communications staff from the line ministries.

The first day of the training included: a brief update on Somaliland SUN and SLCSN-SUN; the basics of food and nutrition and why nutrition matters; and an overview of malnutrition in Somaliland. Other presentations focused on the role of media in moving the nutrition agenda forward and, nutrition advocacy. This was facilitated by Guled Kayse, Director of GNCC (Guled Nutrition Consulting Centre).

On day two, participants were briefed on the elements of journalism and the importance of good nutrition reporting, facilitated by Somaliland media pundit Hussein Ali Noor. The final session covered by Lawyer Amal Osman LLB LLM mainly consisted of bringing awareness to the existing International Code of Breastmilk. Plans for media Innovation Plan for effective nutrition reporting was announced. The workshop ended with participants working together as part of the civil society to develop an action plan and agree on the way forward. The training increased participants’ understanding of issues of nutrition and malnutrition and helped them to see how to frame the issue for media coverage. It also successfully identified and communicated the role of public relations and communications experts in the SUN. As an action point, the experts agreed to follow the Innovation Plan for Nutrition Visibility and Awareness and include nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive communication activities in their monthly and annual sectoral work plans and reports. The Innovation Plan will also contribute towards motivating the media, public relations, and communication experts to give attention to nutrition reporting and to ensure it features higher up the national media agenda.

© Horn Diplomat 2019