By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) has urged media institutions to prioritize the health and welfare of journalists.
In a statement released as South Sudan joined the global commemoration of International Labour Day, UJOSS Chairperson Patrick Oyet appealed to media owners and managers to prioritize improved salary payments to enable journalists to cope with the rising cost of living and meet their health needs promptly.
Oyet emphasized that despite the country’s worsening economic challenges, media owners and managers should continue to prioritize the welfare of journalists and media workers.
“We specifically call upon media owners and managers to pay attention to the issues of health insurance for journalists and media workers,” the statement read.
The UJOSS Chairperson noted that the union is currently in discussions with medical insurance providers in the country to ensure the timely provision of health services to journalists nationwide.
Furthermore, Oyet announced that UJOSS is in the final stages of establishing the UJOSS Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO).
He explained that the primary aim of the SACCO is to facilitate journalists’ access to financial services and encouraged media practitioners across the country to embrace this initiative.
“We call upon all members to support the initiative that we at UJOSS believe will have a positive impact in the long run as far as journalists’ welfare is concerned,” the statement stated.