By Michael Kofi Kenetey
FINN Partners, a global communications and marketing agency delivering strategic counsel and creative solutions across health, technology, consumer and social impact sectors, yesterday launched the Africa Health Media Trends Report 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The report revealed that African health journalism is under unprecedented strain due to escalating public health challenges. However, it highlighted a growing shift towards solutions-driven, Africa-led health storytelling that can help reshape how health issues are covered across the continent.
Based on insights from journalists, editors and advocates across 11 African countries, including Ghana, the report offers a unique ground-level view of how health stories are being reported and how to strengthen the role of journalists in public health outcomes.
It noted that health journalists are navigating shrinking donor funding, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and mental health conditions, recurring infectious disease outbreaks, and the accelerating health impacts of climate change. Meanwhile, newsrooms are operating with fewer resources, reduced specialist health desks and limited access to timely and credible data.
The Founding Partner and CEO of FINN Partners, Peter Finn, said the continent is at a pivotal moment for health communication, adding that when journalism is under-resourced, public health suffers.
Mr Finn emphasised that strong health systems depend on strong media ecosystems, which means that journalists should be treated as essential partners, not just messengers.
A health systems specialist and former World Health Organization Representative and Head of Mission in Morocco, Maryam Bigdeli, stated that the way journalists report on health issues shapes public trust, policy prioritisation and ultimately strengthens health systems.
She reiterated that, amid shifting global health priorities and financing constraints, African countries must focus on building resilient systems grounded in strong primary healthcare, sustainable financing and accountable governance.
Dr Bigdeli emphasised that the report identifies a clear positive trend: journalists are increasingly focused on data-informed, solutions-oriented reporting that centres African expertise and local context.
The report provides a vital roadmap for how health organisations can support the media so that accurate, potentially life-saving information reaches the public.
It called on governments across Africa, NGOs, funders and the private sector to invest in local journalism, improve access to data and African experts, and build long-term, trust-based partnerships with the media to strengthen public health outcomes.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com