The Kwara State Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Health have agreed to join forces on public sensitisation campaigns to teach residents how to prevent Ebola Virus Disease and handle other key health issues.
The plan was disclosed in an official statement released on Saturday by Ishaq Joke, the Information Officer for the Ministry of Communications, according to Punch. The partnership took shape when the Director of Public Orientation, Issa Muhammed, paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Health.
Muhammed explained that public enlightenment remains a major duty of his office, noting that both arms of government need to work together to inform the public on how Ebola spreads and how it can be stopped. He pointed out that his team is prepared to design flyers, broadcast jingles, and stage community roadshows to spread the message.
The Chief Information Officer in the communications ministry, Abdulrazaq Yusuf, also confirmed that his unit stands ready to produce promotional materials to support the drive.
In response, the Commissioner for Health, Amina Ahmed El-Imam, speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Taoheed Abdullahi, welcomed the joint effort. She explained that most health ministry duties focus on stopping, managing, and treating illnesses, adding that partnering with other state agencies is vital for good results.
El-Imam maintained that health campaigns should not only happen when there is an active outbreak, but must continue regularly. She further suggested that the communications team expand the joint effort to cover other units inside the health ministry.
Supporting the plan, the Director of Medical Services and Training, Musilihu Odunaiya, noted that regular public messaging encourages positive habits among citizens. He mentioned that the health ministry runs programmes across all 16 local government areas in Kwara, and bringing in communications professionals will help drive wider community participation.
The meeting concluded with both ministries pledging to build a lasting framework for sharing crucial medical information and guiding the public on disease control across the state.
