WHO trains 75 journalists, social media influencers on health behavioural change reporting
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The World Health Organization (WHO) has commenced a training workshop for journalists and social media influencers on health and behavioral change reporting in Borno State.
According to the Organisation, the capacity building workshop was to improve journalists’ reporting skills on health behavioral changes to save people’s lives.
The three-day capacity building is supported by the German Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/.
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Declaring the training session, yesterday (Tuesday), in Maiduguri, Dr. Lawi Mshelia, the Executive Director, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), said: “An accurate and timely information in the fight against diseases like cholera and polio are important to save people lives,”
Mshelia, represented by the Agency Director, Hajiya Fati, noted that the media plays a critical role in the dissemination of credible information to the general public.
“The engagement of journalists and social media influencers has become crucial in the health behavioral change of reporting to protect people’s lives from the various infectious diseases.
She, therefore, urged them to increase their reporting skills on lifesaving information during health emergencies in the state.
Unveiling the lifesaving measures, the Acting WHO Emergency Manager, Samuel Yenyi, said: “There is the need for increased lifesaving information from the media and social platforms.
“Your reports on health behavior outcomes are accurate and effective in saving life,” he said.
He stated that this will enable at risk-populations to make informed decisions on how to protect their lives from diseases.
According to him, the 75 journalists will be equipped with the basic skills of going beyond information reporting.
“You should focus on the behavior outcome reporting from the various media houses and social media platforms,” he said.
Other presentations made by experts from the academic and media included an overview of WHO mandates in health emergencies and Risk Communication.
The Chairman of Borno state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dauda Iliya, noted that the workshop will effectively ensure the fight against infectious diseases.
