Kano State seeks ethical, responsible health reportage

The Kano State Government has called for ethical and responsible health reporting, as misinformation can create panic, mislead authorities, and endanger public health.

 

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The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, made the call during a two-day workshop on health reportage on Thursday in Kano.

 

The workshop was organised by the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) in collaboration with FCDO-Lafiya and Africa Budget Network (AHBN).

 

The workshop brought together journalists, social media influencers; public relations officers; and health communicators, to enhance their skills in accurate, ethical and impactful health reporting.

 

Addressing participants, Yusuf cautioned against sensationalised or misleading health reports, which could misinform the public and misdirect government resources.

 

“Health reporting is not like other forms of journalism. When you report on health, you are dealing with people’s lives. single false report can cause panic, divert resources, or even lead to fatalities,” he said.

 

The commissioner cited past cases where misreported disease outbreaks led to unnecessary alarm, hence, urging journalists to verify health-related claims before publication.

 

Also speaking, the Director General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Abbas, said that journalists played critical role in shaping public health narratives and combating misinformation.

 

“Health journalism is key to public health response. If information is not accurately reported, it can cause confusion, fear, and even prevent people from seeking care.

 

“That is why training journalists on ethical health reporting is essential,” Abbas said.

 

The Finance Manager at AHBN, Mrs Abigail Ogah, urged journalists to work closely with health professionals and agencies to ensure factual and balanced reporting.

 

“We are not saying don’t report health issues; please do. But do it responsibly. Verify your facts, consult experts and ensure that your reporting contributes to solutions rather than creates problems,” Ogah said.

 

NAN/Wumi