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25 Dec 2016
Amman, 21 December (JMI) -- Dr. Najwa Khouri, professor of infectious diseases and pediatrics at the University of Jordan, has underlined the need for studies and investigations of the content of the health message in local media outlets to achieve the desired objectives. In a lecture at the Jordan Media Institute (JMI), she said that the content of the health message in local media outlets is, on many occasions, unclear or lacks useful information. Besides, the terms are often not understood, which results in missing the desired objective of publishing or broadcasting the health message.<br />
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She pointed out that the educational and awareness-raising role of the media in the health sphere complements the role of doctors, who are unable to play this role all the time or in a perfect manner due to being busy with the treatment and health of patients. She stressed that media persons must give utmost importance to the health message and its content as if it were an event related to their national security. The health message involves the life or death of human beings. Therefore, it acquires greater importance over economic, social, and other messages. <br />
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She said that not all reports published in external or foreign media are correct or fit our local environment. Therefore, we must not take these reports for granted or accept them without scrutiny. On the contrary, we have to question the persons involved before we publish these reports to the target audience. <br />
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At the end of the lecture, moderated by JMI Adviser Bayan Tal, Dr. Khouri answered questions by the audience.<br />
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Dr. Khouri has a medicine degree from the American University of Beirut and the American Board of Pediatrics, and infectious diseases. She is the first woman to receive the title professor emeritus at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jordan, where she occupied several positions, including dean of academic research and head of the Department of Pediatrics. <br />