Yobe lauds media, CSOs on campaign against COVID-19

The Yobe State Government yesterday commended media practitioners and Civil Society Organizations for creating awareness that helped halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, stated this during a one day sensitization meeting with CSOs and media personnel on COVID-19 response, organized by the state government in collaboration with Lafia – UK Supporting to Health in Nigeria and PERL ECP in Damaturu.

Bego said because of the efforts of the media practitioners and the civil society organizations, many people across the state were better informed about the effects and dangers of coronavirus disease.

“Because of the work that we do as civil society organizations and as journalists, if one life is saved, then we can congratulate ourselves for job well-done because one life is a very important number.

“His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, knows and appreciates the efforts of the civil society organizations and the media,” the commissioner disclosed.

Bego urged the media and CSOs not to relent in their efforts towards serving humanity, assuring that Buni’s administration was determined to support them for a better society.

He appealed to all stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19 to use the experience gathered so far in planning against possible outbreaks of other pandemics in the future.

“Let’s continue to learn from all the work that we have done during this pandemic to prepare for future pandemics.

“As far as human beings lives are concerned, there will be diseases and challenges, the only important thing is not to be scared of them, but to be prepared for them.

The sensitization meeting was expected to equip media and the CSOs with the skill to communicate the right message on COVID-19, the need for accountability and strategies and standard infection precautions for journalists reporting COVID-19, among others.