Remarks by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) at a Webinar for Journalists to Commemorate the 2025 African Vaccination Week and Child Health in Ghana.
Presented by Prof Francis. B. Zotor. AMMREN Vice Board Chair.
The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the WHO Country Representative, Dr Kwame Amposah Achiano, Programme Manager, Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Distinguished Partners, Colleagues from the Media and Civil Society, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning.
The African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), is honoured to be co-hosting this special webinar with the EPI and the GHS to commemorate the 2025 African Vaccination Week and Child Health Promotion Week.
This is the first time AMMREN is partnering with the EPI to host such a programme.
This objectives of the Webinar aligns with the goals of the National Media Vaccine Network that was formed last year by AMMREN as an outcome of a collaboration with WHO Ghana.
This year’s theme for the vaccination week, “Every Child deserves a healthy future; invest in your child. Attend ‘weighing regularly,” speaks directly to our shared mission as communicators and storytellers.
Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions known to humanity, and yet, its success depends not only on science and logistics, but also on trust, information, and public confidence. And that’s where journalists come in.
Indeed, vaccination is a crucial public health measure that has helped to eradicate deadly diseases and save millions of lives. However, vaccine uptake depends largely on what information is shared.
In an era where misinformation can spread faster than any virus, journalists have a responsibility not just to report, but to educate, to clarify, and to champion the truth.
Whether it’s countering vaccine myths, sharing personal testimonies, or highlighting the work of frontline health workers, journalists have a pivotal role in shaping the national narrative.
As a proud partner of the EPI, AMMREN is committed to empowering journalists with the right tools and data to tell impactful, evidence-based stories. The webinar today is about reinforcing that commitment. It’s about equipping journalists with insights, deepening their partnership with health experts, and encouraging them to be bold and commited in the coverage of immunisation and child health issues.
As we mark this important week, AMMREN call on all stakeholders—government agencies, health professionals, traditional and religious leaders, civil society and the media to continue working together to strengthen immunisation coverage, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
AMMREN urges every journalist on the call today to take up the mantle of Health Champion. Go beyond the press releases.
Tell the stories of mothers walking miles to vaccinate their children. Highlight local successes and persistent gaps. Hold institutions accountable. But do so with compassion, accuracy, and an unwavering focus on public good.
No child should suffer or die from a preventable disease. Every child vaccinated is a step toward a stronger, healthier Ghana.Together, we can build vaccinated, informed, and resilient communities. Thank you—and let’s keep the conversation going.