Health Ministry Launches Media Engagement Strategy, Canvasses For Increased Reportage
The Federal Ministry of Health has called on Journalists to heighten their reportage of happenings in the health sector.
Director, Family Health Department, ministry of health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas made the call at a 1-day sensitisation meeting and launch of The Media Engagement Strategy in Abuja on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
TheFact Nigeria gathered that the call was coming on the heels of increased spread of communicable diseases in the country due to ignorance.
Anas, who was represented by Director, Health Promotion Department, in the ministry, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi stated that the Media was critical in
creating awareness on issues of public interest.
However, there was inadequate utilisation 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.
This, she said, resulted to high rates of poor health seeking behaviors due to misinformation, misconception, rumors and myths.
She disclosed that, the Goal of the 2019 National Health Promotion Policy was ‘To empower the Nigerian populace to take timely actions in disease prevention, improving their health and wellbeing as well as take measures that ensure a healthy society.’
Anas, however, posited that the achievement of this goal could only be possible if health promotion interventions were directed at improving health literacy and promotion of healthy choices.
Consequently, she spelt out the expected role of the media:
“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”, she said.
Similarly, Director, Health Promotion Department, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi said the aspiration of the ministry was to improve health and well-being, disseminate vital health information, promote accomplishments and knowledge of the health sector.
She said, the Media Agreement Strategy was meant to prescribe ways to harness available tools for publicity, information sharing and public engagement in order to fulfill the mission of the National Plan for Health Promotion (2020-2024), which is ‘to empower Nigerians to make informed choices for healthier living.
