The event was organised by the Nigeria Health Watch in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health to discuss the current cholera situation in Nigeria and checkmate the state’s progress in cholera management, as well as the essential role of media in public health reporting.
The workshop also featured a question-and-answer session, and participants took part in pre-and post-training assessments to gauge the effectiveness of the program.
Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Egbe Ayuk, represented by the Director of Public Health, Cross River State Ministry of Health, John Offor, in his opening remarks, emphasised the important role of the media in the fight against the cholera outbreak.
He urged the media to take the issue seriously, stressing that collaboration between the Health Ministry and the media is vital in the ongoing response against cholera.
He said the media’s involvement is essential in our efforts to combat cholera.” Their role in disseminating accurate information can significantly impact public awareness and response.”
The Program Manager of the Nigeria Health Watch, Abara Erim, spoke on the role of the media in cholera outbreak response, pointing out that while there is currently no cholera outbreak in Cross River State, the state must remain vigilant, especially given the proximity to a neighbouring state experiencing an outbreak.
Erim also called for an effective feedback mechanism and warned against the dangers of misinformation, urging the media to be proactive in verifying and disseminating accurate information.
The workshop also featured an insightful session on cholera epidemiology and public health response, led by the Cross River State Epidemiologist, Blessing Ekpenyong, who highlighted the significant improvements in the state’s response from 2022 to 2024.
She attributed part of the success to the strong collaboration with the media, and effective collaboration with partners, showcasing Cross River State’s commitment to combating cholera and enhancing public health.
She added that the Ministry of Health is working closely with other ministries like the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Departments, and Agencies, using the One Health Approach to ensure a comprehensive response to cholera.
Commending the media for its significant role in disseminating preventive measures against cholera, Mrs. Catherine Ukpepi, the State Health Promotion Officer, tasked journalists to maintain accurate reporting on crucial cases.
She noted that the media is influential in shaping public perception and behaviour regarding the disease.
Presenting the July 2024 Cross River Community Polling Result for Cholera, the Assistant Health Promotion Officer, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Attai Bassey, highlighted Cross River State’s proactive measures in combating cholera, despite the high burden in other states.
She applauded the state’s efforts and said that the state has a significant reduction in confirmed cases and deaths from 2022 to 2024.