A Development partner working on demand creation in the Bauchi state Health sector, Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N)has recommended adoption of solution journalism to health reporters and producers as strategy in reporting public health emergencies.
Mr Nura Faggo,Social and Behavioral change officer BA-N stated this at two days media engagement held in Katagum Local government council,Bauch state.
Faggo said that Participants seek to employ key topics to intensify on creating awareness to curb the occurrence of outbreaks.
He said that practicing solution journalism would improve on the social and behavioral change amongst the public by shifting from dependency on government.
Faggo emphasized that media contents should contain accurate and timely information on preparedness and response.
Speaking,Mr Danladi Yakubu, Assistant State Epidemiologist, said that outbreaks were categorized into man made and natural disasters.
She said that the state experienced outbreaks of Diphtheria, Lassa Fever, Yellow fever, Cerebral meningitis, cholera and measles among others.
Yakubu also said that the disease calendar shows that the various outbreaks ranges from dry to rainy season.
” The state disease calendar is seen as April to August is cholera, September to April is mostly Lassa Fever, Meningitis is mostly in November to June.
Other outbreaks commonly seen are that of measles in November to April, ”he disclosed.
Furthermore,Dr Abdulmajeed Yakubu, BA-N Risk and Community Engagement Officer said journalists should be abreast with basic concepts of infodemics..
He encouraged journalists to redouble efforts in capacity development on fact checking to mitigate spread of mal information,disinformation and misinformation to maintain trust of the public.
Participants were drawn from broadcast,print and online media organizations.
