Members of a Bauchi-based CSO, Journalists for the Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) have been commended for the effective and sustained reportage of health issues in Bauchi state.
The commendation was made by the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BASPHCDB), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed during an advocacy visit on him by the J4PD.
According to him, Journalists are the watchdogs of the society and are supposed to report issues that are going wrongly to correct mistakes and then inform the public about what they are supposed to know as well as what they need not to do in terms of health in order to stay healthy
You, as you have taken it upon yourselves to take care of the health issues through your reports, environmental issues is another area that affects health. But we have realised that the linkage between us and you is not that smooth. Because of one reason or the other, things went down.
A lot of discussions are going on that needs reportage, the government wants us not to be talking much but I am a friend of the Journalists, and I am Media friendly person, our activities need to be publicized
Outbreaks of diseases and other things, we have to reduce our media engagements, we only send our staff to the media organizations (BATV, BRC, NTA and FRCN) for information purposes to discuss issues affecting the public.
The EC however stressed the importance of Media coverage of public health activities particularly people at the grassroots who need to be informed and educated on current health issues for prevention and possible treatment.
He also commended J4PD for the sustained media coverage on the issue of Zero dose in the state saying that through the rigorous media reports on routine immunization has changed the situation significantly as parents are bringing their under 5 children for Immunization.
Rilwanu Mohammed also commended J4PD for the sensitization on family health issues saying that with intensity reportage, family planning has been well accepted in the state to extent of having out of stock of the FP commodities in all facilities across the state.
The EC urged the members of J4PD to continue the good work they are doing in the state as their input has attracted attention of donor agencies to the state thereby having more intervention activities coming in.
In her remarks, Executive Director of J4PD, Elizabeth Kah commended the Agency for the good work it is doing in revamping and sustaining the primary healthcare of the state.
She explained that J4PD is more interested in preventive measures which will reduce the negative impact of outbreak of diseases stressing that a collaborative efforts between the two agencies are very paramount.
Elizabeth Kah added that there is the need to have a common ground to operate for the good of the people of the state adding that there is a need for training of Journalists on how to effectively report activities of the Board to reduce negative reports caused by lack of understanding of the node of operations.
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