KARACHI: Bridge Consultants Foundation (BCF), in partnership with Health Matters Media, organized a media sensitization session on responsible reporting of Drug-Sensitive (DS) and Drug-Resistant (DR) Tuberculosis at Hotel Mehran under the CFCS 2025 Project supported by the Stop TB Partnership through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The session brought together journalists from print, electronic and digital media to enhance evidence-based and ethical coverage of tuberculosis in Pakistan.
Addressing the session, Dr. Syed Sharaf Ali Shah, Executive Director BCF, highlighted the persistent TB burden in Pakistan and the urgent need for coordinated, multi-sectoral efforts to achieve national and global End TB targets.
Dr. Samreen Quraishi, Additional Director, Communicable Disease Control Sindh, emphasized strengthening case detection, improving treatment adherence and countering misinformation.
Professor Rafiq Khanani, senior public health expert, stressed the importance of stigma-free, rights-based communication to protect the dignity of TB-affected individuals.
Akhtar Shaheen Rind, senior journalist, health & public interest communication specialist and Editor-in-Chief of Health Matters Media, underlined the critical role of responsible journalism in shaping public perception, influencing policy dialogue and strengthening accountability in the health sector. He urged media professionals to adopt people-centered language, avoid sensationalism and ensure confidentiality while reporting TB-related issues.
Mr. Waheed Khattak, Program Manager BCF, briefed participants on community engagement initiatives and the importance of collaborative action to address barriers in TB diagnosis and treatment.
A key feature of the session was the launch and distribution of a Media Toolkit on Responsible Reporting of DS/DR-TB, authored by Akhtar Shaheen Rind and Waheed Khattak, developed to guide journalists on accurate terminology, ethical standards, gender-sensitive approaches and human rights considerations in tuberculosis reporting.
Participants were also introduced to OneImpact, a digital platform supporting Community-Led Monitoring that enables TB-affected individuals to report challenges in accessing diagnostic and treatment services, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the healthcare system.
The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration between public health stakeholders and the media to promote accurate information, reduce stigma and support Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis.
