The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged journalists to prioritise health issues in their reportage to bring the challenges in the sector to the forefront.
The call was made by the WHO representative, Fati Gana, during a two-day capacity-building workshop for Borno State journalists and health educators, held in Maiduguri on Saturday.
Fati stressed the need for journalists to continue supporting the WHO in addressing maternal mortality, particularly in Borno State, which has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the country.
Speaking at the event, Director of Family/IM Polio in Borno, Dr Abdulwahab Mala, stated that health workers will maintain open communication with journalists to prevent the spread of misinformation on health issues. He urged journalists to report professionally and ethically, ensuring accuracy and avoiding discrimination.
In his remarks, Dr Olufemi Akinola, Co-Lead of Health Sector Coordination, emphasised the importance of coordination among stakeholders to promote success in the health sector.
The workshop was organised by the WHO in collaboration with the Borno Ministry of Health and Human Resources, with the aim of building the capacity of Local Government Area (LGA) health promotion officers and frontline journalists. The goal was to intensify Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) for effective health education promotion, preparedness, and response to public health challenges.
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