As part of efforts to encourage reportage that will promote the health of the people, WHO has organised a one-day engagement for journalists in Adamawa State.
The engagement is for collaboration between journalists and public health experts on the recent outbreak of Measles in the state that has led to the closure of both public and private schools in the state
WHO state Coordinator in Adamawa, Toreo Ahemen charged journalists to engage in fact-finding before putting up their reportage as it will help in increasing health information for proper attention.
He pointed out that the mass media can make or mar the society.
“What you report is very important to us because it form part of our action plans,” he stressed.
While giving an update on epidemic diseases, Kadabiyu G Jones, state Epidemiologist, said that the disease surveillance and notification (DSN) has been recognised as an effective strategy for the prevention and control of disease especially epidemic prone disease.
He also highlighted the priority diseases under surveillance, noting that “fifty communicable and non-communicable diseases and public health related conditions for IDSR system in Nigeria.”
He further disclosed that the state government has put in place measures to curb the epidemic, adding that surveillance monitoring officers of outbreak have been stationed to report back.
He said that there’s always a process of reporting such outbreak which includes, supervisors, the local government and then the state, these form a team.
“Health is everybody’s business both the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGOs,” he added.
Jones said: “Those without good vaccination status are the ones mostly affected, especially children between 0-5 years.
“Out of the 143 confirmed cases children from 1-15 years are mostly affected between January to May this year while the death toll has risen from 42 to 49 in all the 21 local government areas of the state.”
But he noted that cases have dropped since the surveillance monitoring and vaccination started particularly on the prone areas.
Nunu Duhu, a health educator in the state, also disclosed that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintri has mandated all his commissioners to engage religious and traditional rulers to sensitise the people in their domain.
