By Alfred M. Akwe
Journalists and Civil Society Groups, (TB Norther Nexus Clusters) drawn from selected States of North West, North East and North Central regions of the country converged in Keffi. for a 2- Day brainstorming session on how best to tackle the resurgence of Tuberculosis, TB, in the affected states.
The States which forms the Northern Nexus Cluster on TB comprised of Bauchi, Benue Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa and Plateau State
The programme which lasted two days was held at the Skygate Hotel Keffi, started on August 1 to August 2 saw journalists and CSOs working on the thematic area which is TB, locked in conversation on how best to engage Journalists on reporting Tuberculosis as well as developing strategy on how to generate domestic funding for the project rather than depend on foreign support.
Speaking on behalf of other members of TB Northern Nexus Clusters in the zon, the Executive Director of Centre for Youth, Women and Community Action, NACWYCA, Dr Nawani Aboki, commended the participants for their courage to attend amidst threat of National protest against bad governance in Nigeria.
He said their attending the programme demonstrated their sacrificial commitment to the TB cause and the need to bring the issue to the front burner of states and national discourse.
Group photographs of Participants the 2 day programme
He said journalists and CSOs groups have great roles to play to create the needed awareness in the public and have their buy- in
Dr Aboki then encouraged participants to feel free and bring out the ideas as to how best to tackle the issue through greater awareness creation leveraging on the media which he described as veritable tool in the campaign as well as tasked them to identify ways to raise support through domestic fund.
He disclosed that the media remains a cherished support partner in the project in creating awareness on the infection process as well make the people believe that Tuberculosis is reall and is rvageing many families across the country.
Dr Aboki reiterated that “if we must succeed in creating greater awareness in the rising scourge of TB in the country and particularly in the target project states, the media remains our working partner”.
Earlier the TB project manager in tht State, Mr. Adokpa Mamman while given an overview of the prevalence rate in the six cluster states, he revealed that in 2022 Katsina state considered as TB hotbed recoreded 17, 407 cases while Kano had 39, 420 cases considered to be the national highest and si the need for Media and Partners to put heads to reduce the scourge to the barest minimal.
Mr Adokpa, equally revealed that Nigeria is currently ranked the 6th globally and first in Africa.
He said in 2022 alone, Nigeria recorded an estimated figure 479, 610 incidents, 285, 561 reported cases.
Mr Adokpa, further disclosed that an average 360 people die from TB bringing the total to 245,000 death annually in Nigeria
“Of this figure, men account for 54% while women account for 39% and Children 7%”, Adokpa said.
He explained that the situation is further made grim by low budgeting by the various arms government in the country and most especially the project state.
The Media Roundtable which drew journalists from the various segment of the media such as the print, the electronics, (Radio and Tv) and Online news as well. .
Also participating on the part of CSOs are Langa Women Development Initiative, Bauchi; Health Development (HDI), Kano; Community Awareness and Development Initiative, Katsina; Okaha Women and Children Organisation, Makurdi; Centre for Women, Youth and Community Action NACYW CA, Nasarawa state; and Keneng Rwang Pam Foundation for Education KRP- FEMA, Jos, Plateau.
Krestnews reports that the programme featured paper presentation by resource persons, Alfred M Akwe who is the Editor/ Publisher Krestnews online, Godwin Ogwoche is a Communication Officer , with NACWYCA, Lafia and Mr Adokpa Mamman and Keneng Rwang Pam
Some of the papers presented include, Challenges of reporting TV, Budgetting for Media, Sharing of best examples of TB Reporting in other countries as well as strategy for media TB reporting funding and Domestic funding for TB as well as building Media Coalition for TB.
The project which has a 5 years project is being supported by USAID/ Palladium funds