…Health Watch awards journalists
By Hassan Zaggi
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, has said that the media is critical to attaining health security and also ending COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
He made the assertion while delivering a keynote address at the Nigeria Health Watch second edition of the #PreventEpidemicsNaija Journalism award which took place in Abuja, weekend.
The #PreventEpidemicsNaija Journalism award is an annual ceremony that celebrates TV, radio, and print journalists whose reporting on epidemic preparedness and response has been exemplary in drawing the attention of the public and policy makers on the need to fund activities to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies.
Dr. Adetifa insisted that the media is key to raising awareness in epidemic preparedness by disseminating information to the public.
He also reiterated that the media has, over the years, been holding all relevant agencies and individuals to account, advocate for the government to invest in health security and also protect the health of citizens in the country.
This, he said, has helped to increase funding both at the federal and state levels.
Speaking, the Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ehekweazu, said: “It is important for the media to continue to challenge their reporting skills and ensure that Nigerians are well informed on the current state of epidemics in the country.
“We are proud of the winners that emerged this year and we encourage more health journalists to report more on the need for epidemic preparedness and response funding,” she said.
Findings indicated that this year’s winners, out of a total of 110 entries, excellently and consistently reported on the need to boost local vaccine manufacturing to prepare for the next pandemic (print), contiguously build systems that can respond timely to local outbreaks (TV), and fund epidemic preparedness and response activities at national and sub national levels (radio).
The winners of this year include Abdulqudus Ogundapo from The Nations Newspaper for Online/Print news category. His story was titled: “How poor funding, low technology hinder local COVID-19 vaccine production.”
On the other hand, the television programme category was won by Ezedimbu Karen Ogom of the Africa Independent Television (AIT). Her story was titled: “Nigeria’s Cholera nightmare.”
The Radio category was, however, clinched by Kimberly Nwachukwu of the Nigeria Infor, for exemplary reporting on COVID-19 and epidemic preparedness. The Media House category was won by ARISE Television, for exemplary reporting on COVID-19 and epidemic preparedness.
