Journalists are among the front liners in the fight against coronavirus in South Sudan, but is their work acknowledged?
Little attention is given to the well-being of journalists in South Sudan although they are playing a very vital role in combating this deadly pandemic.
Maura Ajak, a reporter for Catholic Radio Network or CRN, says many reporters are vulnerable to the virus because their media outlets have not been doing enough to protect them.
She adds it is very important that journalists adhere to covid-19 preventive measures because the virus does not know any profession.
‘It is not really enough though we were provided only with sanitizers. Media outlets are not doing enough especially if it comes to the issue of movement to the field. Sometimes I ride with my colleagues from other media houses or I always use commercial motorbike known as boda-boda, this can pose a great risk assuming I contract the virus, all my colleagues will be suspected cases. Even the issue of airtime, no airtime provision is made for journalists. I use my own money which is very expensive’, she complained.
South Sudanese Correspondent working for the Association for Catholic Information in Africa or ACI Peter Mapuor agrees that media organization has not put in place measures to protect journalists from corona pandemic.
He encourages journalists to continue delivering accurate information to the public despite the hardship that they go through.
Meanwhile the editor in chief of Catholic Radio Network Alfred Soka thinks that the media governing body is not doing enough to protect journalists while performing their duty at this critical moment.
He adds it could be due to lack of resources that journalists are not well supported.
The chief editor mentions it is very important for journalists to adhere to the health emergency measures in order to keep informing the public with correct information regarding COVID-19.
However not all media outlet does not care about the safety of their journalists while reporting during this pandemic.
The station manager of Eye Radio Koang Pal Chang says they have put measures in place to protect their reporters.
He adds all reporters need to make sure that while going out to the field they should carry their hand sanitizers, gloves and face mask.
The station manager encourages other media managers to consider safety of journalists as their first priority.
South Sudan has registered 49 cases of COVID-19 in the country and no recovery or death been reported.
The country has been facing numerous challenges in the fight against the potentially deadly coronavirus pandemic.
With only one public health laboratory, and lack of isolation centres the country has a long way to go in combating the disease.