Journalists Indispensable in fight against COVID-19, Says Ganduje
POLITICS DIGEST- Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Friday, described the media as indispensable in the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Ganduje who spoke during a one-day Training Workshop on Prevention and Safety of Journalists Against COVID-19, organized by the state government in collaboration with Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19 in Kano, promised that his administration will continue to synergize with the media in the battle against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
According to him, “this occasion is very important. There is no way I can doubt that the synergy between the Ministerial Team on COVID-19 in Kano and the media in the state remains very important.
“Looking at the theme of the workshop, it first of all, protect the journalist and journalism as a profession. This is so because journalists are the front line workers, just like the health workers.
“As the health workers are vulnerable to risk, journalists are even more vulnerable because they have limited knowledge of the infectious disease.
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Also speaking, Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, who represented the Minister of Health, Dr. Ehanire Osagie, said President Muhammadu Buhari commended Ganduje for coming up with the initiative of training journalists on how best to keep safe while reporting COVID-19.
According to him, “the Minister of Health has mentioned this event to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. He did so during a meeting yesterday (Friday) during which President Buhari was at the meeting.
“President Buhari expressed his gratitude to Governor Ganduje for empowering the Ministerial Team to organize this training workshop for journalists.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said the purpose of the programme was, “to see how we can further build synergy between the media and medical practitioners.”
He described the programme as, “quite engaging and very successful,” adding that it dealt on issues of security, safety and welfare of journalists while covering and reporting COVID-19 pandemic.”
Among those who presented lectures at the event are Dr. Sani Gwarzo who spoke on COVID-19 and Risk Communication, Dr. Ovuoraye John spoke on Safe Media Versus COVID-19, Dr. Iroanya spoke on What Is COVID-19, while Martha Okonofua, a lawyer spoke on Infection, Prevention, and Control.
