Nigeria Health Watch, Brings a Paradigm Shift To Epidemic Preparedness And Response
By Adeyemi Adekunle
Nigeria Health Watch has taken another great move to combat the looming threat of epidemics in Nigeria. In a synergy aimed at improving epidemic preparedness and response in the country, the organization did its 2023 Prevent Epidemic Journalism fellowship. The fellowship, which is designed to bring about a paradigm shift in the approach to epidemic control in Nigeria, was organized to equip journalists with the necessary skills to report on epidemics.
A key goal of the fellowship is to empower journalists to become advocates for epidemic control and to help raise awareness about the importance of epidemic preparedness and response in Nigeria. The program expected to produce a new generation of journalists who will be better equipped to report on epidemics and who will be able to provide the public with accurate and timely information during an outbreak.
The fellowship brought together lecturers from various backgrounds in health and journalism: Dr. Kemisola Agbaoye, the Director of Programs at Nigeria Health Watch; Mr. Gani Isiayku, a Scientist at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC); and state coordinators Muhammad Shuaib and Tawakalt from Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL).
The fellowship, kicked off with an opening remark by, Dr Kemisola Agbaoye who used the opportunity to address the audience on a critical issue – the importance of preparedness and response in the face of epidemics.
With the current inadequate funding to ensure effective epidemic preparedness and response, Dr. Agbaoye emphasized the need to prioritize and invest in these areas. She pointed out that the consequences of not being prepared for an epidemic could be devastating, resulting in the loss of lives and resources.
Her remark shed light on the urgency of the matter and urged the audience to take proactive measures to ensure that communities are protected from the risks of epidemics.
While speaking during a session, Mr. Gani Isiaku, one of the facilitators, delivered a comprehensive introduction to the International Health Regulations and epidemic response in Nigeria. He provided a detailed analysis of these regulations and their implications in the context of Nigeria’s epidemic response strategy. Mr. Isiaku covered various aspects of the regulations, including their scope, objectives, and key features.
He also discussed Nigeria’s preparedness and response plans for managing potential epidemics, outlining the country’s strategies for early detection, reporting, and response.
He highlighted the significance of the ongoing efforts to protect the country from a potential epidemic. He emphasized that “every passing day brings new challenges, but Nigeria is working tirelessly to maintain its economic stability and safeguard the health of its citizens”.
He stressed that an epidemic could be a major setback for the country’s economy and cause significant harm to the public. Therefore, he urged everyone to remain vigilant and follow all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of any contagious diseases.
He said further that States across the country are putting up a good fight to ensure anyone within Nigeria is protected through a Joint external evaluation carry out by NCDC to get all health stakeholders in States to be within the ambit of safety from epidemics.
In order to evaluate the level of readiness and response to epidemics in the Nigerian states of Lagos and Kano, a process of deep-dive journalism was employed. The aim of this process was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the measures that have been put in place to combat potential outbreaks and how effective they have been in practice.
During this process, analytical lectures were given by Mr. Muhammad Shuaib and Mrs. Tawakalt, who are both state coordinators of LISDEL. These lectures provided invaluable insights and offered a unique perspective on the challenges and successes of epidemic preparedness and response in these two states. Through the use of detailed analysis and expert knowledge, a thorough assessment was made of the current state of epidemic readiness in Lagos and Kano.
During the fellowship, the Program Coordinator of Nigeria Health Watch, Ibukun Oguntola, provided the fellows with a unique opportunity to delve into the world of data journalism.
This opportunity allowed the fellows to gain hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge techniques used to tell news stories through data. As a result, they were able to access valuable skills that will be useful in their future careers as journalists and media professionals. The experience was a highlight of the event and one that the fellows will undoubtedly cherish for years to come.
The workshop provides a platform for experts in the field of journalism to discuss the current state of epidemic preparedness and response in Nigeria through their reportage and to identify areas where improvements can be made. This a huge opportunity for young journalists to learn about new techniques for reporting on epidemics and other public health issues.
The participants were enlightened about the significance of adopting a proactive stance towards epidemic preparedness and response in Nigeria. Facilitators who were Professionals in Journalism and health sectors stressed the importance of building effective collaboration between all stakeholders in the public health sector, including government agencies, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, to ensure robust preparedness and response mechanisms are in place.
The fellowship also touched upon the critical role of timely information sharing, proactive risk assessment, and proactive planning in the successful implementation of epidemic preparedness and response strategies. The Fellows were encouraged to take an active role in promoting such collaboration and preparedness efforts and to work towards building a resilient public health system in Nigeria.
A Nigerian trained investigative journalist, who cover various news beats in Nigeria.
