When journalists "go to battle" on the front lines against the epidemic!

(Baohatinh.vn) - When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, journalists in Ha Tinh province rushed to "fight" to promptly and truthfully reflect the fight against the epidemic and guide public opinion.

Over the past time, press agencies and journalists have always paid attention and spent a lot of time on information and propaganda work in the health sector, considering this an important pillar to contribute to the entire political system to fulfill the mission of protecting and taking care of people's health. Each reporter (PV) of Ha Tinh Newspaper in particular, and press agencies in the area have always followed every breath and every development of the province's health sector to promptly inform readers. Especially, when the COVID-19 epidemic broke out, journalists became real soldiers on the front line against the epidemic.

Reporter Phuc Quang and reporter Ho Tuan Dung wear protective gear to work at the COVID-19 patient treatment area.

Since the end of 2019, when the COVID-19 epidemic appeared and broke out in a number of countries around the world, causing panic and anxiety among the people, the reporter team quickly approached the provincial health sector to reflect the first information related to the epidemic according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health . Epidemic surveillance at border gates and ports became the first anti-epidemic activities that the health sector deployed and was promptly informed, thereby somewhat reassuring the people.

When Vietnam recorded cases and at the end of March 2020, Ha Tinh recorded the first case of COVID-19. The patient was a citizen from Nghe An working in Thailand entering through Cau Treo International Border Gate. Although there was no official information, many rumors spread on social networks, causing great confusion among the people. Having access to the information, the reporter team quickly went to Cau Treo International Border Gate General Hospital.

For me and my colleagues, this was probably the most memorable work in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. Setting off that night with the leaders and staff of the Department of Health, my emotions were quite mixed at that time, wanting to have timely and accurate information to provide to readers, while also worrying about my own safety, because at that time the COVID-19 epidemic was still quite vague, and there was no vaccine yet. But with the responsibility of a journalist, my colleagues and I carefully equipped ourselves with anti-epidemic protection according to the instructions to enter the treatment area to approach the patient, thereby having the first information and images to provide to readers.

Journalist Nguyen Thanh Trong (Ha Tinh Newspaper) working at an event.

As for journalist Nguyen Thanh Trong (Ha Tinh Newspaper) - who always directly rushed to hot spots during the pandemic outbreak - he is even more aware of the value of the footage that he himself did not hesitate to take risks to make to provide to the public.

“At that time, the number of infections in the area was very large, the province established field treatment areas in Ky Anh town, Huong Son, Ha Tinh Lung Hospital, Provincial General Hospital... In order for people to better understand the efforts and results of the health sector's quarantine and treatment work, my colleagues and I had to go to the treatment areas to record images of patients being cared for and treated thoughtfully and the silent sacrifices of doctors and nurses on the front lines of the fight against the epidemic. Trips to epidemic areas or to pick up citizens from epidemic areas only needed a small mistake, the risk of infection was very high. However, the most valuable thing was that the most authentic and humane images in the epidemic prevention work were conveyed to the public, thereby contributing to multiplying the spirit of solidarity and determination to fight the epidemic of all classes of people" - journalist Thanh Trong shared.

As a resident reporter of a famous newspaper in the province, journalist Pham Duc (Thanh Nien Newspaper) not only comprehensively reflects all aspects of socio-economic life of Ha Tinh, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, he is also the one who always sticks closely to the front line against the epidemic, not afraid of difficulties, and is always present at hot spots.

Journalist Pham Duc - Thanh Nien Newspaper working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recalling memories of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, journalist Pham Duc said: “Ha Tinh is a very special locality with both an international border gate and a port, and a large number of workers working in other provinces and abroad, so the risk of the pandemic entering and becoming complicated is very high. Therefore, closely following and conveying the situation and developments of the pandemic to promptly reflect to readers is extremely important, contributing to creating vigilance and awareness of epidemic prevention for the people. Through the journeys of following doctors and medical staff to the front line of fighting the pandemic, going into the epidemic area, we can understand the hardships and great sacrifices of doctors and medical staff and functional forces in the fight against the pandemic like fighting the enemy.”

From the first case and until now, the skills and mentality of the team of reporters working during the epidemic have gradually improved. Accessing quarantine areas, treatment areas, border gates, ports or following medical staff to trace, quarantine, and test day and night has become easy and very normal for journalists. Information about cases, the situation, and solutions to prevent and control the epidemic of the health sector are continuously, objectively, and more thoroughly reported by the reporters, thereby contributing to effective orientation for the people.

During the pandemic, the journalism team also produced many stories and good, touching works that left a deep impression on readers and brought the authors many noble awards at journalism competitions such as: "The "fortresses" against the COVID-19 epidemic in Ha Tinh" (encouragement prize of the National Journalism Award "For the People's Health", B prize of the Tran Phu Journalism Award); "The Keepers of Peaceful Spring" won A prize of the Journalism Award for writing about good people, good deeds and typical advanced models...

Beyond the awards, what remains in every journalist working during the COVID-19 pandemic is to accompany and record the efforts, sacrifices, and spirit of solidarity, regardless of hardships and dangers, of medical staff, soldiers, police officers and the community... on the front line against the epidemic to contribute to controlling, containing, and repelling the epidemic, protecting the health and lives of the people, creating momentum for socio-economic recovery and development.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/khi-nha-bao-xung-tran-tren-tuyen-dau-chong-dich-post289945.html