NTBLCP, USAID Train
NTBLCP, USAID Train Journalists on TB Reportage
The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in
collaboration with the Breakthrough ACTION (BA), a USAID-funded
project has organised a capacity building workshop for health
reporters on reporting and content development for TB in
Nigeria.
The four-day workshop was aimed at building a critical mass of
Journalists who would continuously report as well as develop
programme – contents that would greatly contribute to increased TB
and Leprosy case finding and response in the country.
The Workshop also intended to draw the attention of health
writers, Newspapers and content producers in broadcast media to the
reality of TB and its challenges in Nigeria.
Speaking at the workshop, the Head, Advocacy Communication and
Social Mobilisation/Behavioural Change Communication (ACSCC) in TB,
Mrs. Itohowo Ukoh, commended the participants for their attendance
and passion for the fight against TB.
Mrs. Ukoh assured that with the commitment of the Media and the
cooperation of a well-informed public, the narrative on TB would
change for the better.
Declaring the workshop open earlier, the Assistant Director,
ACSCC, Mrs. Omolola Shofowora listed some of the challenges in the
fight against TB to include: low public awareness about TB, poor
media coverage, poor health seeking habit and misconceptions,
inadequate information and stigmatization, amongst others.
She therefore informed that the training would develop the
capacity of the media practitioners and their roles in social
behaviour change with regards to Tuberculosis control.
Stressing on the role of the media in TB control, Shoforowa
charged the 22 participants drawn from the Print, Electronics and
other Channels of Mass communication to regularly produce news,
features and disseminate information about Local/National TB
control activities.
She further tasked participants on the need to put on the front
burner of public discourse, the effect of poor policy and
legislative environment on TB control activities in Nigeria while
urging them to become good TB advocates and Ambassadors.
Resource persons made various presentations on topics such as:
Overview of TB situation in Nigeria; Trend in TB case finding in
Nigeria and the HCD process; Steps to Behaviour Change
/formation-and ‘’where our programs/stories fit in’’
Other topics discussed were: Understanding the Socio-ecological
model and how it affects our contents; How does Communication work;
The role of the Media in Social Behaviour Change (SBC) and Framing
Health Issues in the Media, amongst others.
Boade Akinola,
Media and Public Relations