Nigeria Health Watch Partners APCOM to Train Journalists In Tackling Misinformation, Myths Causing Maternal & Child Mortality In Nigeria

Yomi Durojaye 

Nigeria Health Watch Partners APCOM to Train Journalists In Tackling Misinformation, Myths Causing Maternal & Child Mortality In Nigeria

A Not-for-profit organization, Nigeria Health Watch has partnered with Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria, APCOM to Train Journalists, Health-Workers, Social Workers and Directors in Health sector In Tackling Misinformation, Myths, Causing Maternal & Child Mortality In Lagos and Nigeria at Large.

The event was organized recently at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Conference and Exhibition Center, (LCCI) by Nigeria Health Watch, (NHW) a not-for-profit health communications and advocacy organisation. 

Nigeria Health Watch Facilitators 

NHW aimed at working to improve health outcomes in Nigeria through evidence-based advocacy, policy engagement, and community-driven initiatives. 

According to the Deputy Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Safiya Shuaibu Isa, "In line with our Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) Project, we are strengthening heath system accountability and community engagement in key states, including Lagos.

Cross section of Participants and Facilitators from Nigeria Health Watch 

"Our objective is to Strengthen the capacity of community media practitioners to report on primary health care issues, Improve their understanding of accountability frameworks within the heath sector, to explore avenues for ongoing collaboration in public health communication and advocacy and equip members with tools to counter health misinformation, and maternal & Child Mortality.

Addressing the challenges and proffering solutions, Mrs. Safiya highlighted some of the challenges that led to maternal and Child Mortality in recent times which include, refusal of vaccinations by various communities, lack of essential healthcare facilities in some PHC, patronising traditional childbirth Centre amongst others.

Mrs. Shuaibu while Highlighting the Solutions, said that community need a periodic Health Education, that will  provide families and communities with accurate information about pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and child healthcare.

"Community Engagement: Engaging community leaders and trusted figures to promote accurate information and address misconceptions can be effective. 

Strengthening Healthcare Systems: Ensuring access to quality healthcare services, including skilled birth attendants, essential medicines, and vaccinations, is vital. 

Also speaking at the event, Zubaida Ibrahim, Precious Ajayi and Sheriff Gbadamosi amongst Nigeria Health Watch representatives, in a separate presentation they advised Journalists under the umbrella of APCOM, Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria, on Solutions Journalism as a new trend of news reportage.

Zubaida said "Solutions journalism is kind of reporting approach that focuses on the responses to community and social problems, she stated that rather than solely highlighting the problems themselves. It aims to provide in-depth knowledge about how people are tackling issue, this approach seeks to equip readers with information to understand and potentially participate in solutions. 

"It helps focus on responses by investigating and explain how people are trying to solve problems, whether those efforts have been successful, partially successful, or have failed with an evidence-based data, and qualitative results to assess the effectiveness of the responses being explored. 

She also discussed on Insights, limitations  and strength of any possible solutions of a particular issues.

Speaking in appreciation on behalf of APCOM, the President, Mr. Yomi Adejumo thanked and appreciate Nigeria Health Watch for their concern in reducing maternal, Child Mortality in the Country.

Applauding their initiative, Adejumo said NHW with collaboration of other health agencies in Lagos and Nigeria has helped in the business of advocacy and campaign against misinformation and other myths that has endangered mother, child healthcare in the country.

Adejumo assured the NHW of the Association 's unalloyed support in propagating and engaging various communities with their grassroots dissemination of information of health related issues across the state through the network of Association spread across the states.

LAGS, Unicef Charge Media To Debunk Misconceptions, Myths On Vaccines Through Quality News Reportage...To Begin Immunization October 19th

By Yomi Durojaye 

The Lagos State Government will on Saturday 19th of October, 2024 commence the vaccination of over 18 million Lagosians under its Non-Polio Supplemental Immunisation campaign.

The immunisation exercise which is in partnership with UNICEF is billed to hold in all the State’s 57 LGAs/ LCDAs.

In line with this therefore, the media have been charged to champion messages around the benefits of the exercise that will focus on Measles, Yellow Fever, Polio, Routine Immunization, Tetanus Diphtheria and the Human papillomavirus, HPV Vaccination.

The charge came to the fore at a media orientation programme on the NPSIA/Yellow Fever Campaign organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, and UNICEF.

In his welcome address, Supervising Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Abimbola Bowale reiterated the state government’s unwavering commitment to protecting citizens’ health through effective immunization strategies. “Immunization is the first line of defense in strengthening health outcomes for families and communities,” Bowale stated.

Highlighting the media’s essential role, the Permanent Secretary stressed that journalists must intensify efforts in disseminating accurate information to ensure that every child receives life-saving immunizations, with no one left behind.

“Informing the public about the benefits of these supplemental immunizations and the safety protocols in place can significantly boost participation and trust in these health initiatives,” he added.

In his paper presentations, Immunization Programme Coordinator in the State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Adetola Akinpelu explained that the NPSIA would target vaccines including Measles, Yellow Fever, and HPV, aiming for at least 95% coverage for the measles vaccine and 80% for yellow fever to achieve herd immunity.

“These activities are not merely operational tasks; they are life-saving interventions that contribute to the health and well-being of our future generations,” Akinpelu noted.

UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Specialist, Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole said the Fund intends to employ the help of journalists to combat myths through credible and easy-to-understand content, which will promote and increase vaccine trust and acceptance.

On the safety of health workers during the exercise, Akinola-Akinwole noted that measures are in place in collaboration with the Lagos State Government to deploy qualified personnel, potent vaccines, and other equipment to ensure the success of the exercise.

”UNICEF is committed to the shared goal of a healthier Lagos State and Nigeria, that is free from preventable diseases. We are already engaging with critical stakeholders such as Religious Leaders, Traditional Rulers, and Pressure Groups, among others to better capture our target audience”.

The event concluded with a commitment to ongoing collaboration between health officials and the media to foster a brighter, healthier future for all through effective communication tools such as jingles and concise messages in indigenous Languages, using Social Influencers and Freelancers, Testimonies, Data, and Statistics Interpretation among others.