ABEOKUTA — The United States Agency For International Development (USAID) in partnership with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria has facilitated training for Journalists in Ogun state on Tuberculosis awareness and reportage of the disease.
The one-day media personnel refresher training which was held, Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital had journalists drawn from prints, broadcast and the online medium.
Welcoming participants to the training, the Program Officer, Social and Behavioral Change, Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, Adebisi Adetunji stated that the training is aimed at increasing media personnel knowledge on TB disease and control in Nigeria.
“Our aim is to increase media coverage of TB disease, while strengthening the capacity of media professionals on human centered health reporting and content development.
” We hope to also strengthen the collaboration between the media and the state TB team”, she said
Meanwhile, the Resource Person, Dr. Folashade Idowu, emphasized that Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death, adding that it is therefore important for proper awareness and reporting by the media.
Idowu, who is also the South West Medical Officer, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), added that Nigeria is the highest TB burden in Africa, with over 159,000 associated death since 2018.
“Tuberculosis is an air borne disease, which is common amongst men, than women in Nigeria.
“Therefore, there must be massive awareness using the media, national TB hotlines and community structures in curbing the spread of the disease.
Also, the State TBL Control Program, Monitoring and Evaluation, Tijani Musibau, in his presentation canvasses for media men to metamorphosize into champion of TB campaigns, adding that the media can bridge the gap of infections.
