Veteran journalists and experts drawn from the Health sector and international organisations will this week converge for a two-day workshop to appraise efforts of the Nigerian media, especially health reporters, in reporting the COVID-19 pandemic objectively and accurately.
The workshop organised by the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists (ANHEJ) is tagged; “COVID-19 Reportage Assessment Meeting.
According to the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Hassan Zaggi, the event is apt, considering the sudden emergence of the virus and the efforts by media professionals to stay afloat the pandemic by providing relevant information to the masses, their stand as opinion leaders to shape behavioural change patterns, ensure safety from the virus, demand accountability from government, guarantee that Coronavirus does not override other life threatening health concerns, as well for citizens have access to healthcare services.
He said the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is expected to deliver the keynote address titled, ‘X-raying media activities during COVID-19 pandemic- FMOH’s perspective’.
“It is no longer news that the COVID-19 Pandemic disrupted activities in all sectors including the health and media sectors globally. Global leaders. governments and captains of industries have continued to grapple with strategies to limit the impact,” he said.
Zaggi added that although the number of reported cases in Nigeria is showing a downward trend, there have been projections of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which is already forcing some developed countries especially in Europe and the United States of America, to reinstitute lockdown and stringent measures for containment.
He said that Nigerians known to be great travellers especially to countries in Europe and America, have not been taking the call for a mandatory 14 days quarantine upon arrival to Nigeria seriously.
“More worrisome is the realities that majority of Nigerians have continued to live in denial of the COVID-19 pandemic, as seen in the flagrant display of non compliance to the COVID-19 protocols of hand washing, use of face mask and social distancing in public places,” he stressed.
Zaggi said fake news, lack of media trust, ignorance, myths and misconception might have played a role in the perception of Nigerians towards the virus.
He called on Nigerians to adhere to the precautionary measures given by the presidential task Force on COVID-19, set up by the President Muhammadu Buhari to avoid another wave of the pandemic, which would only destroy the already fragile economy, throwing more Nigerians especially those at the grassroots and the vulnerable, into abject poverty, intense suffering and anguish.
He however, added that assessment of the media’s coverage of the pandemic by key stakeholders in the health sector and the media circle, could hold the key to preventing the dreaded second wave of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
