Kano health ministry sensitizes media executives on polio, routine immunization

The Kano state ministry of health Tuesday held a one day sensitization workshop for media executives  on the role of the media in effective social mobilization for healthcare services, particularly polio and routine immunization.

The sensitization workshop, aimed at raising awareness of key stakeholders on routine immunization (RI), polio eradication and information management during outbreak of epidemics was organized with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

While delivering a paper on reporting outbreak in an era of global information disorder, Dr Umar Gwandu of the department of mass communication at Bayero University, Kano reiterated the need for media practitioners to properly inform the public adding that the essence of reporting outbreak was to inform the public and hasten containment of the disease as well as mitigate its social and economic impact.

“We are not to write to terrify people rather to build trust; disease outbreak also affect economic activities, therefore we should inform the public and show concern,” said Dr Gwandu.

Speaking at the event, the Kano state commissioner health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso outlined the progress Kano had made in the area of polio eradication and routine immunization.

“As a result of our collective efforts we are making progress in eradicating this disease [polio] from Kano and the country at large, no stone will be left unturned to reach every child in Kano state. We deliver vaccines directly to remote areas, the Kano state government is funding routine immunization 100 percent,” said Dr Getso.

At the end of the sensitization workshop Dr Getso presented certificates of excellence to people who had contributed immensely towrads polio eradication and routine immunization in Kano state.