WHO, Yobe gov’t train journalists, social media influencers on effective health reporting
Story from Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
In an effort to promote healthy leaving in the Yobe State, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Yobe State Ministry of Health, has on Wednesday flagged- off a three-day training workshop on health reporting for journalists and Social Media influencers in the state.
Flagging off the training opened at Sand Dune hotel in Damaturu, the Executive Secretary of Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board (YSPHCMB) Dr Babagana Kundi Machina said the training is aimed at promoting healthy living conditions in the state.
Dr Machina called on the participants to put all hands on deck as they serve as health ambassadors in the state.
In his opening remarks, the WHO Yobe State Coordinator, Dr Ningi Barau, said the training is aimed at refreshing people’s thinking and approach towards behavioural change that is expected to improve health and wellbeing.
Dr Ningi stated that communication is key and correct information is important in managing any situation or outbreak of diseases.
“If people are not aware of how the disease manifest, how it can be contacted, and also what they should do when they have the disease, then there will be a problem.
“Why because people may be affected with the disease without their knowledge and the disease can propagate and reach out to many people and can course lots of death and morbidity”, said WHO Yobe Coordinator
Speaking on the objectives of the training, a facilitator with WHO, Mr Kingsley Igwebuike, said that the training would improve skills beyond mere informative reporting to health behaviour outcome reporting.
He stated that the training would also increase the preponderance of life-saving information, just as he stressed the role of WHO during emergencies.
The facilitator further revealed that the training, “Will improve our public health knowledge; our roles as public health ambassadors, and also help us imbibe basic knowledge of risk communication.
