UNICEF, Yobe govt. train 70 journalists on immunization, disease outbreaks
By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board (YPHB) has trained journalists in immunization and outbreaks of diseases in the state.
According to the Fund, the one-day media orientation can influence public behavior and government policies for global responses to health crises.
Declaring the training session open on Tuesday in Damaturu, the Director of Information and Chairman of the State’s Social Mobilisation and Community Engagement Working Group (SM&CEWG), Ali Yawale, disclosed: “I charge you to always report healthcare and disease outbreaks with utmost professionalism and integrity.
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He declared that the reports should focus on disease outbreaks and the impacts of immunizing children against various diseases, including cholera and polio.
Yawale noted that; due to climate change, the state may experience disease outbreaks that require emergency measures to contain their further spread in communities.
“In a digital age where information spreads rapidly, misinformation can have serious consequences on people’s health,” he warned.
He said the roles of journalists in the dissemination of accurate and reliable information is , however, more crucial than ever before.
Yawale continued: “Journalists are stakeholders, and you have the power to shape public perception and understanding of healthcare issues and disease outbreaks.”
He, therefore, urged them to essentially verify information from multiple credible sources before disseminating it to the public.
He warned the journalists in attendance to avoid “sensationalism, speculations” by sticking to the facts on health reporting in the Northeast.
According to him, misinformation and rumors can cause panic and confusion, and they have no place in responsible journalism.
Besides, he added there is the need for journalists to emphasize regular immunization and hygiene among peopl for a healthy society.
The Maiduguri UNICEF Communication Specialist, Hajiya Zainab Hassan said the UN agency considers journalists as key in informing the public on the signs and symptoms of any disease outbreak.
She noted that they should emphasize on the need for the adherence to ethics governing the practice of journalism as a profession
