New listserv member from Uganda

Rebecca Birungi, Journalist, Mama Radio, Kampala, Uganda

I am currently working as a news reporter with Mama Radio, a women’s community radio station with a focus on promoting a greater understanding of health issues across Uganda, where I have worked as a volunteer since graduating from university five years ago. Although I report on a wide range of issues including politics and business the main focus of my journalistic activities is related to health issues, which I combine with my passion of radio.

In producing and presenting health programs I have covered issues such as HIV prevention, antiretroviral therapy, discordance results, environmental pollution and softer areas such as aromatherapy.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University in Uganda. Though I am dealing with public health issues from a communication strategy side. Currently Iam pursing a Masters degree in Public Health and Leadership at Mukono Christian University. The course in public health has enabled me to understand the dynamics of public health from a broader perspective so as to better apply my communication knowledge.

I also freelance with The Sunrise Newspaper by contributing articles on health, business among others. My experience in communication, I have learnt that for communication programs to succeed there is need for a thorough understanding of the various dynamics at play in people’s health and these can make a major contribution to the role of women in Ugandan society in building up civic society groups and activities.

In this respect, it is important to understand the dynamics and empirical facts underpinning behavioral patterns of communities and this is best done through research.