ABBOTABAD: Deputy Director Administration Health Directorate FATA Dr. Muhammad Ishaq said “it is important that agency surgeons should make themselves available to media for providing accurate and factual information regarding FATA health team efforts to eradicate polio.” He said this while inaugurating a one day “Spokesperson Training Workshop” organized by Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) FATA Secretariat, in collaboration with UNICEF, on Thursday April 27, 2017 in Abbottabad. Purpose of the workshop was to train Agency Surgeons of FATA and FRs and FATA EOC officials on handling and maintaining a constructive and effective partnership with the media. Deputy Director Administration Dr. Muhammad Ishaq opened the training sessions by welcoming the training resource persons, all the agency surgeons, partner and EOC staff members for their time. He said it is important that relevant health authorities at the agency level should have strong relationship with the local media for sharing and dissemination of information and raise awareness among communities in the importance of vaccination for a healthy future of FATA children. Senior Journalist Haroon Rashid informed participants regarding international and national media landscape and the recent surge in media outlets and journalists as well as the more popular social media which is widely used. He discussed various skills needed for interacting with media as a spokesperson, especially, during crises and emergencies. He highlighted the importance of preparation before talks with media and said that a spokesperson should be concise and confident during discussions with the media. He also shared tips to prepare talking points, gather facts, notes and handle phone calls. Group Editor AVT Khyber Hassan Khan during his session highlighted that facts should be quoted without any inklings, generalizations and consideration of perceptions and rumors. He said it is important that agency surgeons should know various types of media outlets and journalists in his area; especially those who report on health, and said good relations with media should be maintained throughout the year. During the session ways and means for proactively engaging with media were discussed and best practices such as sharing public information, making oneself available to the media, giving access, supporting positive stories and reaching out to media were emphasized. The participating health officials asked various questions about interaction with media, challenges faced by the officials while reaching to media and possible solutions to them. Agency Surgeons also participated in group exercises during the sessions.