NCDC, WHO train stakeholders on risk communication during health emergencies

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have trained stakeholders on effective risk communication during health emergencies.

The WHO said the workshop, initiated by its regional office for Africa, is part of the strengthening and utilising response groups for emergencies (SURGE) initiative.

The training, in two batches, commenced in Lagos on Monday and is expected to end on November 30.

The training was attended by officials of federal and state health ministries, journalists, communication officials, and security officials.

Walter Mulombo, WHO Nigeria country representative, stressed the importance of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) in preventing the spread of diseases.

Mulombo said the training was initiated to “effectively prepare, detect, and respond to emergencies”.

Mulombo, who was represented by Memuna Esan, acting state coordinator for WHO in Lagos, said the training was to ensure that Nigeria is better prepared to respond to public health emergencies.

Esan said the SURGE initiative will cover six states across the six geopolitical zones, which are Edo, Kano, Yobe, Lagos, Abia, and Abuja.

“I am particularly excited because the deliberation and outcome of this important meeting will play a critical role in ensuring improved awareness creation is championed with appropriate key messages, quality community engagement, and effective/timely management of infodemic, especially in this era of increased information sources targeted at vulnerable populations,” she said.

“I must assure you that the World Health Organisation in Nigeria is committed to working closely with the federal government, the NCDC, MDAs, and key stakeholders to prevent diseases and protect and promote the health of Nigerians, bearing in mind that outbreaks typically start and end in the community.”

Representing Jide Idris, NCDC director-general, the Director General of NCDC, Tochi Okwor,  programme coordinator, said the workshop is essential to develop the capacity of stakeholders to “develop adaptable and generic messages for social and behavioural change”.

“We want to make sure that we are paying attention to disease prevention,” Okwor said.

“We need to go through the root causes of the diseases and come up with generic messages and materials that we can easily adapt for messaging for people to take action.”