Els: MBN360 News
The Africa Health Media Trends Report 2026 has revealed that health journalism across the continent is facing mounting pressure at a time of complex and evolving public health challenges.
The report, released by FINN Partners at a hybrid press conference in Kenya on Thursday, highlights how shrinking global health financing, rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs), climate-related health risks and recurring disease outbreaks are reshaping health reporting in Africa.
Drawing on insights from journalists, editors and advocates in 11 African countries, alongside perspectives from Western legacy media, the report provides a ground-level assessment of the pressures, priorities and opportunities shaping health journalism in 2026.
According to the findings, many African newsrooms are operating with limited resources, fewer specialist health desks and reduced access to timely and credible data, even as public demand for accurate and trustworthy health information continues to grow.
Launching the report, Peter Finn, Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of FINN Partners, described the current period as a critical moment for health communication in Africa.
“When journalism is under-resourced, public health suffers, strong health systems depend on strong media ecosystems, and that means treating journalists as essential partners, not just messengers,” he said.
Mr Finn noted that shifts in global health financing have become a dominant media storyline, compelling countries to rethink issues of health sovereignty, domestic funding and local manufacturing. He added that journalists are increasingly required to interpret complex policy changes and explain their real-life impact on communities.
Adding her perspective, Maryam Bigdeli, a former Representative and Head of Mission in Morocco for the World Health Organisation (WHO), said media coverage of health issues directly influences public trust and policy priorities.
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“Amid shifting global health priorities and financing constraints, African countries must focus on building resilient systems grounded in strong primary healthcare, sustainable financing and accountable governance,” she said.
The report underscores the need for locally driven solutions and evidence-based dialogue to advance long-term health equity across the continent.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Bojang, a journalist with The Africa Report, said health reporters remain committed to producing impactful stories but often face barriers such as inadequate funding and limited access to credible local experts.
Despite these challenges, he noted that the report identifies a growing shift towards solutions-driven, Africa-led health storytelling. Journalists, he said, are prioritising data-informed reporting that centres African expertise and local context, moving away from narratives that portray the continent solely as a site of crisis.
“The priority now is localising global health news to show how it affects our communities, we are moving past simply reporting on Western studies,” Mr Bojang said.
He added that the report provides a roadmap for how health organisations can better support the media to ensure accurate and potentially life-saving information reaches the public.
The Africa Health Media Trends Report 2026 is therefore calling on governments, development partners, funders and the private sector to invest in local journalism, improve access to data and African experts, and build long-term, trust-based partnerships with the media to strengthen public health outcomes across Africa.
Source: GNA
Report: African health Journalism under strain
