More Questions Than Answers
By Imani M. Cheers | March 01, 2013 | Ghana
When I first proposed to examine and report on the impact of mHealth on women and girls in Africa, I’ll admit, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I’ve been a journalist for 14 years and spent many years reporting on arts and entertainment stories. I can interview a celebrity in my sleep and truly love the opportunity to chat with my favorite artist or actor! However, after a decade of working with very interesting people, I yearned for more substantive and positive content.
Some of the children in my sister Nia’s village. They inspired this entire project!
I started at the PBS NewsHour in May 2010 and was eager to expand my repetoire to include education and hard news. After three years of preparation and training I am confident that my multimedia production and interpersonal skills will aid me in telling engaging, compelling and honest stories about the impact of mHealth on the lives of women and girls in 10 African countries.
My first trip to South Africa, Zambia and Malawi is less than a week away! I’ve spent the last month preparing for my journey including meeting some AMAZING people and getting a crash course in public health. Disclaimer: I’m NOT a health communication specialist! There have been many nights the last six weeks that I needed a dictionary to understand some of the complex terms and theories concerning mobile technology and public health! I like to simplify things and if there is one thing that I’ve learned thusfar its that solutions to some of the greatest health issues impacting vulnerable populations are not simple.
As I prepare for my first of three voyages, I have more questions than answers. For example, what do I do when civil unrest closes the airport in Malawi? How do I navigate the visa process for jounalists in Zambia? How can I effectively manage and maximize my time in each country? What happens if I my contact doesn’t show up at the airport? Will my new unlocked Samsung smartphone actually work in each country? Should I contact the US Embassy in each country upon arrival? Will all my equipment work? How can I pack efficiently so I don’t attract too much attention?
I’ve been to 27 countries on 6 contients over the last 33 years and in 2013 I’ll be traveling to 10 different African countries for a total of 8 weeks all by myself. This is the biggest project I’ve ever attempted and while I’m excited and eager to board my plane next Wednesday, I’m also a little anxious. Needless to say, I’ll report all the ups and dows, triumphs and trials here for the world to read. I guess my only other question is, will you be with me?
~Cheers
Imani Cheers is a 2013 International Reporting Project New Media fellow. She is investigating the intersection of mobile technology and global health in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire and Liberia.This post originally appeared on Imani's blog, The Cheers Report.
Your donation helps continue the IRP's work to inform the public about international issues.
Make A Gift