The workshop also aimed to improve the dissemination of lifesaving information on mass media and social platforms so that at-risk populations can make informed decisions about how best to protect themselves from infectious diseases.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop which was held at the Grand Pinnacle Hotel, Maiduguri on Monday, a WHO official, Mr Kingsley Igwebuike said “The objective of the workshop was to improve the skills of journalists and social media influencers beyond mere information reporting  to health behaviour outcome reporting”

“The workshop will include key presentations on epidemic-prone diseases, an overview of WHO mandates in health emergencies; Risk Communication aimed at equipping participants with the skills to report health behaviour outcomes accurately and effectively.

The workshop was attended by 75 journalists and social media participants, who came from various organizations; the goal of which was to equip participants with skills necessary beyond mere informative reporting and focus on health behavior outcome reporting.

In his remarks, Dr. Lawi Mshelia, the Executive Director State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), commended WHO for the workshop, describing it as timely as it gave the participants an opportunity to know the importance of accurate and timely information on public health emergencies

Fati, a representative from the Agency, said that media plays an important role in disseminating information to the general public. Journalists and social media influencers must be equipped with skills for reporting on health-related behaviour outcomes, she added.

Dauda Iliya, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Borno State, spoke on behalf of all participants and said that the workshop would contribute significantly to the fight against infectious diseases in Borno state and particularly Nigeria as a whole.