The event aimed to shed light on the barriers women face in accessing quality healthcare and the role of media in driving awareness.  

Maturin Tchoumi, International Area Head at Roche Pharma, emphasised the importance of education and early detection in improving health outcomes. “We all know that in healthcare, education, awareness, and early detection can determine a better outcome for the patient. Most of the time, we leave this in the hands of healthcare professionals. The objective of Roche Africa Press Day is to bring non-healthcare professionals, such as media, who have a great reach to the population,” he said.  

A key focus of the discussions was the structural and cultural challenges preventing women from receiving timely care. “In many communities, men often make healthcare decisions for women. Additionally, the best treatment centres are sometimes located far from those who need them most. I heard a story today about a woman living 37 kilometres from the nearest breast cancer treatment facility, this is the kind of inequality we must address,” Tchoumi explained.  

The event also explored how media can play a transformative role in bridging the healthcare information gap. “When women are informed about the signs of diseases like breast cancer, they are more likely to seek early treatment. However, much of this information is only shared by medical professionals or highlighted during specific awareness months. We want to empower journalists and digital media specialists to consistently report on health challenges affecting women,” Tchoumi noted.  

Journalists attending the event expressed a mix of enthusiasm and concern about covering complex medical issues. “One journalist mentioned that their platform covers sports, culture, and politics but rarely addresses healthcare. They see an opportunity to change that,” he said. “At the same time, many feel intimidated by the technical language of healthcare. That’s why events like this are crucial, to translate medical jargon into something the public can easily understand.”  

Roche has hosted similar events in other parts of Africa, including Egypt, as part of its broader efforts to support healthcare system improvements through public-private partnerships. “We see this initiative as a vital complement to our work in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that women across Africa have better access to essential services,” Tchoumi said.  

--ChannelAfrica--