By Patrick Obia
The Fourth Estate of the realm, the media has been charged on effective reporting on Tuberculosis (TB) disease.
This was the call from a one-day workshop for Health Correspondents and Reporters in six States across the country, by the National Tuberculosis Program and Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH).
The facilitator of the training which held online (zoom), Jumoke Adebari, who is the National Director of the Program said that, tuberculosis is one of the most deadliest disease in Nigeria and the globe reiterating that the silent killer is underreported.
Jumoke stressed that TB is air borne and not sexually transmitted or witchcraft as posited by some.
Lecturing on the signs and symptoms of tuberculosis which includes cough, night sweats amongst others, Dr. Tito Aiyenigba sued that, “as the media, we have the power to speak on the policy level; it is the role of the media to look into the policy of Government on TB. The media should help and provide the facts about tuberculosis.”
The image makers were implored by the organisers to assist in preaching against stigmatization on those living with TB as it is not a dead sentence, disclosing that 157, 000 persons died of tuberculosis in 2019. In Cross River, it is said there are over 2,000 new cases of tuberculosis.
In a brief interview the State Advocacy Communication Mobilization Desk Officer, Cross River State Tuberculosis Program, Mr. Dominic Ndem called on the press to utilize the knowledge they have gotten for the benefit of the masses.
Highlight of the training which included Delta, Imo, Taraba, Gombe, Edo and Cross River States was question and answer session.