BHUBANESWAR: IN a bid to create a robust information dissemination system and public engagement through social media platform, the Health and Family Welfare Department on Wednesday conducted a ‘Social Media Workshop’ for health officials.The participants were imparted training on how to amplify ongoing and upcoming awareness campaigns and various health initiatives. The workshop is expected to help increase their participation on social media and channelise the power of the medium for service delivery system.
Health Secretary Dr Pramod Meherda, who chaired the workshop, said since social media is one of the best mediums to keep people informed about latest developments and various programmes, the officials have been asked to take its benefit closer to the beneficiaries. Reflecting on current trends and evolution of social media as a dominant medium of communication and service delivery, he said focus has to be on the use of social media proactively to reach out to the people to inform, engage and serve them.
We need to make the public aware and keep them informed. This will eventually help in widening coverage and ensure better implementation of various initiatives besides getting us feedback from public on issues relating to health services and its administration,” Dr Meherda added.The ongoing Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign is already popular on social media and the department is keen on starting similar campaigns for other programmes soon, he added.
After the orientation session, all the officials have been asked to actively participate in day-to-day activities on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.The State Health and Family Welfare Department is currently active on Twitter (@HFWOdisha) and Facebook (@HFWOdisha) and plans are afoot to expand to other platforms soon.Among others, MD of National Health Mission (NHM) Shalini Pandit, MD of Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) Archana Patnaik and senior officers from various health directorates and medical colleges were present.