By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
The scourge of Tuberculosis (TB) has posed a serious challenge to the health sector globally especially in developing countries of which Nigeria is among.
Various governmental and private run organisations have stepped efforts to disseminate relevant messages concerning the disease but it has become evident that no effort to defeat the scourge will be effective without addressing the social, cultural, economic, legal among other factors which influence TB control.
It is note worthy that key among these determinants include: community, gender relations and human rights issues.
The media undoubtedly, plays a key role in disseminating information about the disease and this makes it pertinent for organisations involved in the fight against the scourge, to effectively engage the media to propagate messages concerning it to the public especially on treatment/control, gender relations and human rights issues surrounding it.
The Grassroots Development Empowerment Foundation (GRADE Foundation) in collaboration with the Centre for Development and Reproductive Health (CDRH) have been at the forefront of sensitising the public on the diagnosis/treatment, gender and human rights issues concerning tuberculosis. The organisations, recognizing the key role of the media in achieving this goal, have been organising series of training for journalists to enable them effectively deliver on this role.
The organisations on January 8, 2024 organised a one-day orientation of journalists/ On Air personnel on Gender and Human Rights on TB Programme. The theme of the orientation was: “Empowering Women Drives Change: Project For The Promotion of Gender Mainstreaming and Women Rights in TB programmes in Nigeria”.
The training held in Enugu had in attendance, journalists from reputable media houses in Anambra and Ebonyi who were tutored by egg-heads in the public health sector.
Mr Parick Amah, the Executive Director of GRADE Foundation, said that journalists should use their various media channels to disseminate information about TB. He noted that most deaths recorded from the disease was due to lack of information available to suferers and such trend should be checked.
“You should use your various information channels to enlighten the people about the diagnostic/ treatment opportunities available to them. Also the gender issue and the rights of TB patients in the society,”.
He noted that emphasis would be placed on gender due to the widely held notion that females were weaker and much issues surrounding gender, apportioned to men.
“We now want to integrate more women into TB programing. Women have the reach and population. We believe also that they have the passion to execute this task.
Amah noted that the GRADE Foundation and CDRH in their shared commitment to tackle formidable challenges posed by TB and ensuring the dissemination of accurate, up-to-date information to health care professionals, journalists among other stakeholders; have developed manuals to build capacity of stakeholders in the TB programming.
“This is to enable them fully embrace, model and apply best practices in TB; its diagnosis, treatment and prevention in a gender transformative and rights–based manner”.
An epidermologist and Facilitator of the programme, Dr Isaac Alobu urged the media to assist various governmental and non-governmental agencies to free people from the shackles of ignorance occassioned by religious beliefs, superstition and myths about TB.
Alobu said that when people are made to know what will affect them, they prevent such dangers in line with the popular saying that prevention is better than cure.
“We have continued partnering with the media to effectively deliver message of the key components of diagnosis/ treatment of TB, gender issues and the rights of TB patients. We understand that teamwork is fundamental in achieving the aims of the National TB control programmes. We expect the media to show greater commitment to fighting the stigmatsation of TB suferers in the society”.
Giving an overview of the project, Alobu said that its duration is one year, commencing in May 2023 and expected to end in April 2024. He noted that the programme cover two south east states of Anambra and Ebonyi: involving a total of nine LGAs–two in Anambra and seven in Ebonyi.
“There is the dire need to increase women participation in TB network. The target is women, girls and youths in communities,”.
Participants at the orientation, formed study groups to formulate operational communication plans to achieve desired objectives. In the various groups, they outlined various operational goals and objectives. Particular emphasis were given to the women participation in TB network and promotion of rights of TB patients in the society.
The groups outlined various target populations of study and outlined various feedback mechanism to employ in generating adequate and relevant responses from their target population.
The journalists who showed unbridled passion and commitment during the orientation, made wide-ranging comments, observations and recommendations on the topic of study. They also commended the GRADE Foundation and CDRH for their tenacity in propagating messages about TB and urged them to sustain the good work.
