UNICEF hails Nigeria Media over fight against Covid-19 pandemic

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has hailed media organizations in Nigeria for their proactive role in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, who gave the commendation on Thursday in Enugu at a one day zonal media executive meeting on child rights influenced reporting on covid-19 pandemic said the organization is committed to more robust collaboration with the media in fight against the deadly pandemic.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that Conteh, who was represented by Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, noted that though considerable progress is being made by the Federal Government of Nigeria, UNICEF and other development agencies to ensure the spread of Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control through accessibility of vaccines, the issues of public hesitancy, unwillingness and conspiracies against the Covid-19 vaccines makes efforts of government and partners donors un-reciprocated. 

He said "UNICEF and partners recognize the active role media has continued to play right from the onset of the COVIID-19 pandemic by ensuring correct and timely messages about the pandemic is disseminated to the public while at same time, enabling rapid and wide spread reach of public health information. 

 “UNICEF looks forward to more robust collaboration with media and an expected upward trend in for the promotion of health and hygiene practices by media in Nigeria, by daily communication to the public of protocols enforced by the government to prevent spread of COVID-19, reinforcement of useful messages on safe health practices such as increased hand washing, use of face coverings, and social distancing.

"UNICEF and partners will continue to respond to the four COVID-19 response pillars adopted by Nigerian government in line with NCDC’s guidelines by emphasizing the imperative role of the mass media in today’s fight against COVID-19 with huge reliance on that fact through levels of concerted collaborations with media and related communication outlets for reinforcement of messages on equal access to healthcare, ending discrimination, and social stigmatization by providing daily updates to public on ways to combat the pandemic and remain safe".

Lectures were delivered by experts on Covid-19 vaccination as a life saver, role of Mass Media in accurately reporting child rights influenced information to curtail the spread of Covid-19, and the impact of covid-19 on education, the need for mass vaccination. 

The one day zonal media executive meeting on child rights influenced reporting on covid-19 pandemic held in Enugu had in attendance seven States media practitioners drawn from Kogi, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River, and Imo State.

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