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By Funmi Falobi

Journalists perform the important roles of informing, educating and entertaining the public. They are imperative in the development of any society as they serve as the watchdog of the society and voice of the people.

However, they face a lot of challenges in carrying out their works. They are threatened, harassed and authorities also use laws to limit their performance. When undergoing risky assignments, they also become endangered species especially in conflict situations and investigative reporting.

As part of efforts to equip Nigerian journalists with necessary training that would improve their safety, the International Press Centre, IPC, with the support of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) organised a training workshop to enlighten journalists on the issue of digital security and trauma management.

The online training entitled, “Safety, Security and Management of Trauma in Coverage of Dangerous Assignments” is one of the components of a project on ‘Enhanced Safety Awareness for Nigeria Journalists.’

In his address, Executive Director, IPC, Lanre Arogundade declared that the workshop was expected to enhance the capacity of journalists to manage difficult safety challenges while carrying out their work. Stressing that, participating journalists are expected to be able to practice with increased confidence and manage dangerous situations effectively.

“Increased reporting risks especially as occasioned by Covid-19 require that journalists have enhanced safety knowledge and consciousness. Indeed, the importance of journalists’ safety while reporting cannot be over emphasised, since journalists have to face the challenge of publicising information in a new and changing, but repressive environment, despite being poorly equipped and in some cases having limited knowledge and skills.

“When the media is constantly attacked and intimidated, the entire society suffers information-scarcity. Governments, business, civil society and individuals all lose when the media cannot do its job of bringing reliable information to the public.
Safety also borders on protecting the state of mental health of journalists, as they are usually on the frontlines of difficult and overwhelming incidents, such as crime scenes, road accidents, natural disasters and wars.

“Journalists also undertake the dangerous assignment of investigating corruption and other criminal activities, all of which could make them susceptible to threats, attacks, anxiety, stress and burnout,” he said.

Taking the participants through the use of technological devices, Gillo Cutrupi, IFEX Consultant on Digital Security, encouraged journalists to always use licensed apps in order to safeguard their information.

Speaking on the topic, “Safety Reporting and the Challenges Online and Offline,” Cutrupi enjoined journalists to keep their mobile devices updated.

“When you are conversing, you have to be security conscious. Don’t release any important images, information that might go on social networks. Be mindful, don’t click on links you’re not sure of, it might lead you to links that are not secured,’ he said.

The information security expert therefore advised journalists to always do a checklist of what they would need whenever they are going on any assignment.

Similarly, Fisayo Soyombo, an award winning investigative journalist cautioned the participants to be weary of who they trust while carrying out dangerous assignment.

Speaking on the topic, “Dangerous Assignments: Lessons on Safety,” he enjoined journalists to always have a plan when covering dangerous assignments.

” Use the social media but with discretion. Have a risk exit plan and don’t under estimate the risk of being found out,” he said.

Soyombo therefore admonished journalists to seek professional advice before embarking on any dangerous assignments.

On her part, Dr. Uzo Israel, Lecturer/Consultant, Clinical Psychologist, University of Lagos urged journalists to always have positive perception. According to her, “how you interpret stress would determine whether it is negative or positive.”

Speaking on the topic, “Managing Stress, Trauma” Israel maintained that the Covid-19 pandemic affected our social and financial life and people have different perceptions about the covid-19 vaccine, while negative attitude will affect one’s health.

While encouraging journalists to embrace relaxation exercises due to the nature of their work, she said, “research shows relaxation exercises are effective in stress management. If we practice relaxation therapy very well, we are on our way to manage stress.

“It has been found that stress causes ulcer than anything else. Stress causes premature aging. If you reduce your stress, your ulcer will reduce.

“You can adapt to relaxation exercises no matter your condition. By all means, find time to relax and meditate,” she added.

As the world celebrates International Day of Families, Journalists for Christ (JFC) International Outreach, the Association of Christian Journalists in Nigeria has urged families to bond with each other without the distractions of electronic gadgets.

Based on the theme for this year, “Families and New Technologies,” JFC also charged the media to deploy the use of technology in their reportage to ensure social development and wellbeing of all.

In a statement signed by the JFC President, Lekan Otufodunrin, the association said this year’s theme is a clarion call for parents to pay more attention to training and nurturing their children as stated in Proverb 22:6.

No doubt the COVID-19 pandemic has reiterated how technology can shape the world positively and journalists can leverage on this to provide adequate coverage to issues bedevilling Families across Nigeria and the world at large.

” We believe that this year’s theme is a reminder for parents to deploy the use of technology in every way possible to monitor and protect their families in the face of kidnap,rape, robbery, abuse, and other vices that are increasing by the day.

“Most importantly, this is the time to remind professionals to put the spotlight on issues affecting families, with the aim of driving social change and development.

“Our publication titled – ‘Muffled Voices’ highlighted some of the challenges that Internally Displaced Person’s (IDPs) encounter and the low reportage of these issues by the media,” he said.

JFC noted that the IDPs in camps also belong to specific families and the media should not neglect them in their reportage.

By sdnonline

U.S. Ambassador Mary Leonard has visited Akwa Ibom to inspect the HIV control facilities in the state.

The Ambassador and a delegation from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led by Mission Director Anne Patterson met Governor Udom Emmanuel and other senior state officials toured hospital and HIV control facilities supported by USAID.

With Governor Emmanuel, Ambassador Leonard discussed the success of HIV control in Akwa Ibom State as a result of a “surge” in U.S. assistance through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the state abolishing user fees for treatments. The two officials also spoke of malaria control, the investment climate in the state ahead of the arrival of a new Sheraton hotel, and Akwa Ibom’s participation in the new USAID ‘State 2 State’ activity to improve governance.

“The United States applauds Akwa Ibom’s achievements toward HIV epidemic control,” the ambassador told the governor. “Your commitment to abolish user fees has been critical to increasing use of HIV services and has made Akwa Ibom a model we hope other states will follow.”

Leonard also visited a U.S.-supported HIV ‘Situation Room’ within the state Ministry of Health. A technology-based platform that keeps service providers, community service managers, and public health decision makers connected, the Situation Room helps the state ensure transparency and availability of real time data, and greater data integrity. Data generated in the Situation Room guides interventions and course corrections and has been a critical tool in Akwa Ibom’s historic growth of HIV treatment from 20 to 80 percent of people living with HIV in the state.

She also visited a ‘One Stop Shop’ in Uyo that provides HIV medicines and therapy and other health services for more than 7,000 members of vulnerable populations in a safe and stigma free space. She also visited the U.S.-supported General Hospital Etinan, where a staff of 135 provides anti-retroviral therapy for more than 3,300 patients, including a 45-bed inpatient capacity.

The Ambassador met with leaders of the Akwa Ibom state Task Force on Human Trafficking established by Governor Emmanuel in August 2020. She commended officials on their efforts to combat human trafficking, and said she hopes other states will follow their example. She encouraged officials to follow up formation of the Task Force with effective anti-trafficking legislation.

By sdnonline

On behalf of the U.S. government, Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard has accepted a donation of HIV rapid test kits from Belemaoil, a leading Nigerian oil and gas firm, to support activities by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to eradicate HIV and AIDS in Akwa Ibom State.

The handover took place in a ceremony between Ambassador Leonard, who is leading the U.S. delegation on a tour of the U.S. government activities in Akwa Ibom, President and Founder of Belemaoil Nigeria Ltd. Tein Jack-Rich,

the Secretary to the State Government Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, USAID Nigeria Mission Director, Dr. Anne Patterson, and the State Commissioner of Health Prof. Augustine Umoh.

The donation brings together the U.S. strategy under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) implemented by USAID, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Department of Defense and the oil giant Belemaoil through its corporate social responsibility program to deepen private sector involvement in Nigeria’s health sector to strengthen healthcare and achieve HIV epidemic control in the Akwa Ibom.

“We celebrate the incredible strides made in Akwa Ibom over the last two years to control HIV,” Ambassador Leonard said at the ceremony. “We are committed to continuing this partnership to help ensure that residents of Akwa Ibom who need these services can access them without barriers. We also encourage other private sector partners to support the national HIV response.”

The test kits, with a testing capacity of 74,600, will support prevention of mother-to-child transmission services within antenatal clinics and provide critical HIV testing services to numerous young children and others who are at risk.

Even with the challenges of the COVID pandemic, Akwa Ibom, with USAID’s support, has made remarkable progress in its efforts to eradicate the epidemic. The number of people receiving lifesaving HIV treatment in the State has increased from 19 percent to 82 percent, with 35,000 people in 2019 to over 156,000 in 2021.

Jack-Rich added: “This contribution is part of our commitment to consistent engagement through reputable partners like USAID to support states and communities in the Niger Delta, and indeed all across Nigeria.”

An estimated 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDS, according to the U.S.-supported Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) of 2018. The United States, through PEPFAR, supports 80 percent of all HIV/AIDS treatment services provided in Nigeria.

Through PEPFAR, USAID supports 16 states, including Akwa Ibom, to deliver client-centered HIV treatment services to over 500,000 individuals and delivers HIV test kits, medicines, and laboratory reagents to provide life-saving HIV treatment to over 1.4 million Nigerians throughout the country. USAID also provides comprehensive services to over 500,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers impacted by HIV

By sdnonline

As the world celebrates the Workers Day, Journalists for Christ (JFC) International Outreach has called on media owners to improve working conditions for Journalists and other media workers.

While commending Journalists for their efforts in ensuring the society is well informed JFC President, Lekan Otufodunrin declared that the economic downturn is taking its toll on the media practitioners and the industry.

“On the occasion of today’s Workers Day celebration worldwide, Journalists For Christ congratulates journalists and other media workers for work they are doing in their various organisations, institutions and agencies.

“We acknowledge the challenges journalists have to cope with due to economic and other factors that have affected conditions of service and led to loss of jobs.

“We call on media owners in Nigeria to improve on the working conditions of their staff and provide necessary facilities to ease the job they have to do,” he said.

Otufodunrin said that workers retained should be adequately renumerated, while those retrenched should be paid their entitlements promptly.

“The situation where staff of media organisations are not paid for months and are expected to still perform optimally is not realistic and should not continue.

“We implore media owners and managements to explore and adopt new business models and use of new technologies to enhance their production for sustainability,” he advised.

JFC prayed that God would continue to grant both workers and owners the wisdom needed to sustain their operations.