WHO to journalists: Use your reportage to promote health information

As part of efforts to encourage reportage that promotes the health of the people through the information they receive from the media, the World Health Organization (WHO) has organized a one-day engagement for journalists in Adamawa State.

The engagement, a collaboration between journalists and public health experts, focuses on the recent outbreak of measles and other diseases in the state. Dr. Toreo Ahemen, the WHO state coordinator in Adamawa, urged journalists to engage in fact-finding before reporting, as it will help increase health information for proper attention.

He emphasized that the mass media can either make or mar society. “What you report is very important to us because it forms part of our action plans,” he stressed.

Dr. Kadabiyu G Jones, the state epidemiologist, provided an update on the outbreak, highlighting disease surveillance and notification (DSN) as an effective strategy for preventing and controlling diseases, especially epidemic-prone diseases.

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He also outlined the fifty communicable and non-communicable diseases and public health-related conditions under surveillance for the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system in Nigeria.

Jones revealed that the state government has implemented measures to curb the epidemic, including stationing surveillance monitoring officers to report back.

He explained the process of reporting such outbreaks, which involves supervisors, the local government, and then the state, forming a team. “Health is everybody’s business, including the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and NGOs,” he added.

Jones noted that those without a good vaccination status, especially children between 0-5 years, are the most affected. He stated that out of the 143 confirmed cases between January and May this year, children from 1-15 years are mostly affected, with the death toll rising from 42 to 49 in all 21 local government areas of the state.

However, he mentioned that cases have dropped since the surveillance monitoring and vaccination started, particularly in the prone areas.

Nunu Duhu, a health educator in the state, also revealed that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintri has mandated all his commissioners to engage with religious leaders and traditional rulers to sensitize the people of their locality.