As the deadly wave of Coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19 pandemic continues to widen its scope, media practitioners have been enjoined to foster adherence to non pharmaceutical protocols, aimed at containing its spread.
This call was made by some stakeholders at a one-day media sensitisation on information management of the pandemic, jointly organised by the FCT Public Health Department and World Health Organisation (WHO) in Abuja.
In her presentation, the Pilar Lead, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) of the FCT Public Health Department, Hauwa Suleiman, said the media should help create social norms, by applying professional advice and skills to build strong norms around the behaviour change.
She stressed the need to create the right level and type of emotions in line with the relevant terrain of the people as well as help replace one behaviour with another, which is often more effective than just stopping it.
Similarly, the FCT State Epidemiologist, Dr. Doris John gave an overview of COVID-19, noted that the non pharmaceutical preventive measures are the only available vaccine until Nigeria gets supply of COVID-19 vaccine.
She enjoined media practitioners to always support ongoing efforts towards improving compliance with the protocols, by helping to inspire positive behavioural change among the people.
On her part, a veteran Journalist, Chief Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, who delivered a talk on Media as a partner in COVID-19 Response in Nigeria, noted that journalists as an integral part of the healthcare sector, should be encouraged to be actively involved in the process.
Makanjuola urged journalists to always invest more in research into the public health sector, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to enable them be purveyors of solution to the society.
She noted that with the advent of ICT, mass media has the potential to reach mass audience with information especially those that help in shaping perception of the people, with the aim to help foster adherence to the protocols.
Stressing that journalists must understand that they are social influencers in the society, she urged them to avoid dissemination of unverifiable information about the pandamic, which is damaging to the users.
Not left out, WHO Health Emergencies Communications Expert, Chima Onuekwe, opined that in moments of pandemic, the media must help build confidence in people with the dissemination of right information, education and motivational messages.
Onuekwe, in his paper presentation titled: ‘Journalist vs Public Health Workers’, stated that journalists should always compliment public healthcare workers/ experts by amplifying the established protective measures to the members of the society.
“The media should do more than just reporting to being active involved in the detection, prevention and treatment of the pandamic.
“Media practitioners should see COVID-19 Pandemic as an opportunity to educate, inform and reassure the public by focusing on medical literature and information related to the pandemic, given the realities of the healthcare system,” he stressed.
By Stanley Onyekwere,
People's Daily Newspaper