Ogun state journalists undergo refresher training on tuberculosis awareness reportage

The United States Agency For International Development (USAID) in partnership with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria on Friday trained Ogun State Journalists on reportage of Tuberculosis disease and its awareness.

Penpushing reports that the one-day refresher training engaged media practitioners from both the print, broadcast and online medium, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital with number of participants in attendance

The Program Officer, Social and Behavioral Change, Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, Adebisi Adetunji in her welcome speech at the training explained that the exercise was aimed at increasing media personnel knowledge on Tuberculosis 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

Penpushing further reports that Resource Person Dr. Folashade Idowu in her presentation, pointed out that Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death, hence, importance needs for the media to give proper awareness and reportage.

The guest lecturer who doubles as the South West Medical Officer, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), disclosed that Nigeria is the highest Tuberculosis burden in Africa, with over 159,000 associated deaths 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’, Idowu added.

Penpushing also reports that the official of Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ogun State Tuberculosis Control Programme Tijani Musibau, in his presentation canvasses for journalists to metamorphosize into champion of Tuberculosis campaigns, emphasising that the media can bridge the gap of infections.

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