The World Health Organisation (WHO), on Monday orgasised an intensive health reporting workshop for Journalists and Communication experts in Adamawa, following the inadequate comprehensive health report on Epidemic-prone diseases in the area.
Dr Semeeh Omoleke, Coordinator of WHO in the state, said that the sensitisation workshop was meant to further strengthen the relationship between the Media, WHO, Ministry of health and other health-related sectors.
Omoleke spoke during the opening session of the workshop on Monday in Yola.
“The role of Journalists and Communication experts is quite crucial, especially, on information management and Epidemic responses.
“WHO organised this important workshop to teach Journalists and other information managers how Epidemic and other diseases should be reported in the context of health information.
“Also, the workshop is an opportunity to refresh the memory of Journalists on how things should be done, to enable them understand their roles in reporting health issues, especially disease outbreaks,” Omoleke said.
On the objectives and expectations of the workshop, Mr Kingsley Igwebuike, WHO Communication Assistant, said that the core objectives of the workshop included building skills capacity of participants on effective and comprehensive health reporting.
”In addition, the workshop is to impact knowledge and orient the participants on risk communication and educate the general public on the dangers of the disease, preventive measures and control,” Igwebuike said.
He said that at the end of the workshop, participants are expected to understand that they have a responsibility to educate the society on how to protect themselves, first aid and how to control further spread of diseases.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Comrade Dedan Ishaku, Chairman, Adamawa branch of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), thanked the organisation for organising the workshop, saying it came at the right time.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a 26 participants from different media organisations took part in the one-day workshop (NAN)
