By Prudence Ijah
Veteran journalists and experts drawn from the Health sector and international organisations will this week converge for a 2 day workshop to appraise efforts of the Nigerian media, especially health reporters, in reporting the COVID-19 pandemic objectively and accurately.
The workshop which is organised by the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists (ANHEJ) is tagged; “COVID-19 Reportage Assessment Meeting,”.
The meeting is apt, considering the sudden emergence of the virus and the efforts by media professionals to stay afloat the pandemic by providing relevant information to the masses, their stand as opinion leaders to shape behavioural change patterns, ensure safety from the virus, demand accountability from government, guarantee that Coronavirus does not over ride other life threatening health concerns, as well for citizens have access to healthcare services.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is expected to deliver the key note address titled, ‘X-raying media activities during COVID-19 pandemic- FMOH’s perspective
The COVID-19 Pandemic disrupted activities in all sectors including the health and media sectors globally. Global leaders, governments and captains of industries have continued to grapple with strategies to limit the impact.
According to a statement signed by the ANHEJ President Hassan Zagi, journalists are caught between right to safety, passion, fear, emotions and obligations to employers constantly demanding news content.
Nigerian health reporters have continued to show resilience in upholding tenets of the profession to constantly educate and inform the masses on extent of the disease, monitor global COVID-19 infections and recoveries, vaccine production, and most importantly, the need to adhere strictly to laid down protocols to contain spread of the virus.
Although the number of reported cases in Nigeria is showing a downward trend, there have been projections of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which is already forcing some developed countries especially in Europe and the United States of America, to stgreat travellers especially to countries in Europe and America, have not been taking the call for a mandatory 14 days quarantine upon arrival to Nigeria seriously.
More worrisome is the realities that majority of Nigerians have continued to live in denial of the COVID-19 pandemic, as seen in the flagrant display of non compliance to the COVID-19 prevention guidelines of hand washing, use of face mask and social distancing in public places.
ANHEJ states that fake news, lack of media trust, ignorance, myths and misconception may have played a role in the perception of Nigerians towards the virus.
With Nigeria already in recession, President Muhammadu Buhari and key principals have consistently warned that another wave of the pandemic would only destroy the already fragile economy, throwing more Nigerians especially those at the grassroots and the vulnerable, into abject poverty, intense suffering and anguish.
By implication, the uptake of health care services and delivery may suffer greatly, leading to preventable ailments, health complications or death as the case may be.
Assessment of the media’s coverage of the pandemic by key stakeholders in the health sector and the media circle, may hold the key to preventing this dreaded second wave of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
As catalysts of change, health reporters must adopt new and innovative strategies for a more robust, objective and effective communication and advocacy. This will help build trust, address existing communication gaps and elicit a behavioural change to protect Nigeria and Nigerians from COVID-19 and future disease epidermic or pandemics.
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