Raising Community Awareness about zoonotic disease, the Roles of Professionals and Media

Abstract

This study was carried out to through light on the factors that affect circulation of fact statement reportedand listed in media. Media plays an important role in spread of information, which formulate knowledge and attitude of communities .The study also focuses light on factors that determine the roles and efficiency ofveterinarian and physicians as professionals in handling problems, and study targeted people that have relationship with animal owners and methods used to deal with health problems .The recent outbreak of RiftValley Fever (RVF) was taken as a case study. A questionnaire was designed and distributed in different locations in Khartoum, White Nile, Sennar states. Questions were mainly focus in how the disease is reported, controlled and prevented. Knowledge sources and development of professional carrier were examined. Another questionnaire was distributed to farmers. Both urban and rural communities were included to estimate the main factors that affect disease control and prevention. A comprehensive review of articles that were published in the daily newspapers about the issue was made. The analysis of the questionnaire was done using simple statistically Methods of percentage and frequency .Also a similar analysis was made for newspapers materials. Most veterinarians have goodidea about zoonosis especially RVF reported from the field and mentioned widely in media. This reflected adequate knowledge in all diseases. however veterinarians know much about zoonosis , but contribute little to the field of raisy awareness about the disease. Focusing light on roles and responsibilities of professionals of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Animal Resources and Press to deal with problems. Showed that : The linkage between them, responsibilities for extension, and disease reporting were not clear. The role of individual who have relationship with animals is necessary to avoid epidemics and zoonotic diseases need to have a defined body , with media representative as partners to reduce the hazard of dissemination of wrong information which leads to a state of un necessary horror among the communities. Observing professional ethics by both professionals and journalists should be a safeguard against spread of wrong in formations scare among the communities.