8th FAAPA General Assembly Kicks Off Under ‘Health Sovereignty in Africa’ Theme

This major event brings together the Directors General of several African press agencies, media and health experts, as well as distinguished figures from various fields, with a focus on FAAPA’s 10 years as a forum for reflection on the future of African press agencies and their central role in the 21st century, in their respective diverse and specific mediums.

This two-day gathering will shed light on ways of promoting and bolstering African health sovereignty in order to better cope with future shocks. Today more than ever, the development of health sovereignty on a continental scale stands as a major challenge calling on all the driving forces of the continent, including the media, and in particular national press agencies.

This observation calls on all stakeholders to work together towards disseminating accurate information, combating fake news and raising awareness of public health issues, as part of an approach based on cooperation and shared development.

The first day of the event will feature a panel discussion on “The media as a linchpin in helping manage health crises in Africa”. The aim is to examine correlations between the medical field and the media, with a particular focus on scientific communication in times of crisis, press agencies’ role in raising public awareness as well as training health reporters.

On this occasion, a video was presented to commemorate FAAPA’s 10-year journey, highlighting the key events and achievements of this African federation throughout its first decade.

The opening session of this assembly was attended by Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Ivorian Minister of Communication, Government Spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly, as well as FAAPA President and Director General of the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP) Fouad Arif.

The Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) is a professional platform bringing together around thirty press agencies and observer members. Its mission is to promote cooperation and the exchange of experience between African press agencies in all areas of mutual interest, including information dissemination, training, digital and multimedia products.