Importance of media relation

In the mid-80s, the Ministry of Health conducted an interesting public relations campaign which demonstrated how this country had made excellent use of public relations through the government information services in Nigeria. Public relations have been used in the public sector to conduct numerous services in the interest of the public to stir the affairs of the grassroots.

It is used for adult literacy campaigns and other major initiatives like the introduction of universal basic education for all children; sensitisation about personal health and hygiene and diverse public-oriented campaigns. There were local information officers who coordinated national information campaigns to domesticate projects at the grassroots level.

In Nigeria, vaccine was supplied by the Federal Government for the immunizations of infants and pregnant women and people were sensitized at all levels to make this easier. Infant mortality rate had been high for many years and many women died during pregnancy or lost their babies until the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) sought to educate Nigerians about government efforts and how to stop the unnecessary deaths.

As campaigns are done to minimise the effects of diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria and whooping cough, there is a need for effective public enlightenment  at this period to further curb the spread of coronavirus . There may also be the need to engage traditional rulers in the education of their subjects.

Ayoade Ibiyemi,

Ede

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