The Higher Population Council (HPC) concluded on Tuesday the first part of a professional training program for journalists.

In her opening remarks, the HPC Secretary General, Eng. Maisoon Al Zoubi, stressed the important role media pays in supporting population and development issues in society and pointed out that the program consists of two parts and aims to highlight population policies, issues and challenges faced by society, HPC’s role in addressing challenges, the impact of population growth on development and population studies as well as the impact of the refugee crisis on society.

Al Zoubi further added that HPC is focusing on enhancing the capacities of journalists and media professionals in developing communication and media advocacy plans and enabling them to have a more effective and influential role in supporting population policies and issues.

The first part of the training program consisted of two days, while the second part will be for five days and will kick off next Sunday at the Media Institute.

HPC’s Dr. Sawsan Al Dajaa explained on the first day of the training key population-related concepts as well as the National Reproductive Health Strategy and policies for investing in and realizing the demographic dividend.

On day two, Ghaleb Azzeh and Ali Al Mutlaq explained the impact of population growth on development sectors and studies on population and development.

Manager of Mrejib El Fhood Camp, Colonel Ahmad Al Ghazo, from the Public Security Department’s Syrian Refugees Directorate talked about the situation of Syrian refugees, their impact on the infrastructure and mechanisms for dealing with refugees and delivering services to them.