Reporting prompts Rwandan district to strengthen disease communication

In December 2022, the Rwanda Dispatch published a story highlighting how farmers use mobile phones to detect and report the symptoms of Rift Valley Fever (https://rwandadispatch.com/rwanda-combating-rift-valley-fever-disease-using-mobile-phones/), which helps contain outbreaks and allows farmers to get assistance fast enough to save livestock and avoid economic ruin. According to John Mugisha, the journalist, the vice mayor of Gatsibo district changed a budget policy in response to the article to increase information officers’ capacity to share updates with communities about the transmission of diseases among animals to people. This strengthened the authorities’ role in communicating about public health matters.