By Hassan Zaggi
In an effort to improve the health seeking behaviour of Nigerians, reduce misinformation, misconception, rumors and myths about health-related issues, the Federal Ministry of Health has sensitised the media sector on its engagement strategy.
The Media engagement strategy is being championed by the Health Promotion Division of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The goal of the engagement strategy is to set out mechanism, arrangements and effective pathways to guide collaboration between the Health Promotion Division and the Federal Ministry of Heath and the media sector.
The strategy is also meant to prescribe ways to harness available tools for publicity, information sharing and public engagement in order to fulfil the mission of the National Strategic Plan for Health Promotion (2020-2024) which is to empower Nigerians to make informed choice for healthier living.
Speaking at the sensitisation meeting, the Director Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, lamented that inadequate utilization of media platforms for dissemination of health-related information to the public as well as showcasing the activities and achievements of the Federal Ministry of Health has resulted to high rates of poor health seeking behaviors due to misinformation, misconception, rumors and myths.
Dr. Anas, who was represented by the Director Health Promotion Division, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, however, said that, to change this situation, “the Family Health Department, Health Promotion Division in collaboration with key actors in media sector, developed the maiden Media Engagement Strategy for Health Promotion in Nigeria 2021-2025 to highlight the roles and expectations of the media in creating visibility for the Ministry’s activities.
“The strategy aim to provide guideline on how the Health sector will work effectively with the Media sector to increase awareness and reportage of Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent and Elderly Health plus Nutrition, and other essential health services at both the Federal and Sub-national levels.”
Speaking, a facilitator at the sensitisation meeting, who is a veteran journalist, Chief Moji Makanjuola, advised the health ministry to work closely with the journalists covering the ministry for maximum results.
She said that carrying the media along in its activities will create a bond between the ministry and the media which will engender cordial and good working relationship.
Chief Moji who is the Executive Director of International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) challenged journalists to put the interest of the nation above all in carrying out their responsibilities.
“It is important you take charge of providing authentic health information to Nigerians, failure to do so, quacks and non professionals who know little about health related issues will take over the space and therefore, misinform Nigerians.” Chief Moji stressed.
In his remarks, the President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), regretted that since the past few years, the Federal Ministry has not been friendly with journalists, hence, the gap in the provision of adequate health related information to Nigerians.
While commending the Director of the Health Promotion Division, Mrs Bako-Aiyegbusi, for her doggedness and resilience in ensuring the division comes to limelight, Mr. Zaggi urged her to put more effort to ensure the sustainability of the engagement strategy.
Findings indicated that the specific objectives of the media engagement strategy include to establish parameters to guide and manage the working relationship between the health promotion division of the Federal Ministry of Health and the country’s media sector; articulate approaches to leverage potentials and facilitating linkages and collaboration among key stakeholders, audiences, media platforms and outlets for health information sharing and public engagement and serve as a template for adaptation at state and local government levels, reflecting their own circumstances and objective realities.
The high point of the meeting was the election of interim leadership for the Health-In-Media Coalition (HMC). The Director of the Health Promotion Division of the Federal Ministry of Health emerged as the chairman of the HMC, while Mr. Hassan Zaggi, the President, Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), emerged as co-chairman.
