Thanks to his professional role in “The Challenge”, he was linked to television in 2005 and today is in charge of the health section of Snail News. Dr. Fernanda talks about COVID-19, which she suffered, and the challenges in the pandemic.
A month and a half ago it became known that he had COVID-19. You yourself made it known on your social media, with a rather calm attitude and in a serene tone. How has this time been, since you received the news so far, that you have already overcome it?
I was always very calm. Not only because I had no severe symptoms, but because I experienced the best possible scenario: the asymptomatic one I didn’t feel it! Thanks to the randomized test, I learned that I had COVID-19 and was able to isolate myself; otherwise I would not have noticed. In addition, knowing the data and the probabilities gives you this peace of mind: up to 40% of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic carriers (ie people who have the virus but do not develop symptoms, although they can transmit it to others). ) Here is one of the big traps this virus brought us! Other than that, I don’t have comorbidities or risk factors and I don’t live with vulnerable people either. So the picture was always favorable.
Not only is she a presenter, she is also the editor of the health section of Snail News. How do you discriminate between so much information the most relevant and scientifically proven, especially in this time of so much fake news?
The pandemic made health a topic for all journalists and non-journalists, because with its complexity and multiple edges, it came out of the hands of those who traditionally dedicated ourselves to this source. Admittedly, this has also been an information crisis, among other things, due to the volume and speed at which it is spreading. As for the news and information that is within my competence, I myself seek and do. In addition, it has a very wide network of specialists whom I consult in particular situations. With fake news, right now, technology itself makes this essential verification task easier for us. I consider it a mandatory exercise for those who disseminate and consume information. Contrary to popular belief, I think fake news becomes an opportunity for journalism to show its value.
How is the process for organizing verified information and choosing topics to address, particularly in this time of pandemic?
I think choosing the topics has been one of the biggest challenges, lessons and learnings in a very complex context. In our case, we have an editorial board for each news program, in which the topics are analyzed and assigned. I participate mainly in what corresponds to the noon news. I think, as in other respects, the media was unprepared. This has undoubtedly been a challenge for quality journalism. I am convinced that the only way to make a difference in the midst of so many sources, confusion and this war of misinformation is with rigor, creativity, commitment, ethics and self-regulation. I hope it paves the way for science journalism and takes its rightful place.
Her foray into the media was linked to her participation in her role as a doctor in “The Challenge,” did she hesitate, at the time, to accept the proposal?
I didn’t hesitate. Just when they made me the proposal I said, why not? I must admit that I did it out of curiosity to know a world other than the one I lived in and about which there are many prejudices. But I wasn’t wrong in accepting the offer. It was a tremendous experience. It’s fun to look back because I was running away from the cameras. In the few interviews I gave I was very serious and technical: ‘it makes me laugh to see! I couldn’t imagine that this would become my day to day life.
How were your first appearances on television, already as a presenter of medical topics?
I have a very clear memory, as if it were yesterday. These first appearances were to talk about flu, we were in the midst of respiratory illness (2005). Everything was new, it cost me a lot of time, it seemed the most challenging. How can you talk in a minute and a half about such a broad topic? But I managed to adapt, little by little the capacity for synthesis develops to achieve the most important thing: to have a clear, concise and useful message. I think it was the perfect opportunity my life put into doing public health. I am convinced that my job, from the media, is another way of doing medicine.
What has been your hardest time in the air to overcome?
Covering up what happened with the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination in Cant Cant Bolivar was a very difficult and painful time. But the most complex and long has been this pandemic. Many times I have felt frustration and helplessness. I must confess that on several occasions, at first, I cried. So I had to repeat the words that, precisely, about Bolivar’s Carmen, someone said to me: “A swallow does not make summer.” I understood that I can only contribute a grain of sand and that I alone cannot change things. This helped me to keep going and do my job the best I can.
What objection would you have to the phenomenon of virtuality?
Virtuality came to stay and transform the way we communicate and interact. I think, without a doubt, that it has huge advantages, let’s just look at the pandemic. The virus locked us in our home, but virtuality allowed us to stay connected to the world. Of course, he has his skinny side. The overabundance of information, the speed at which it spreads (especially the erroneous and malicious one), the lack of filters in the sources and the quality of the contents become a threat. We cannot eradicate these phenomena, but we can improve the response from different fronts and, of course, giving the population greater tools for verification, critical thinking, media, digital and information literacy and, in this case, science.
In 2014 she published “Doctor, What Do I Do?”, A book in which she answers medical concerns. Do you have plans to publish another book?
Of course, I’ve always wanted to re-do not one, but several books. And especially during this pandemic, at times I have thought: what if I collect the little chapters I write every day? But as the saying goes: the urgent does not leave time for the important. Or maybe it’s lack of discipline. In any case, I hope to be able to do it again.