Health Education: KWSG Trains Information Managers on Infodemics 

By Abdulrasheed Shafihi

The role of health educationists, Information/Communication Officers and stakeholders in information management in Kwara state have been described as essential to effective health care service delivery and uptake of intervention strategies in the health sector.

This Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, gave the indication while delivering a goodwill message at a training session on infodemics organised by the ministry in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The 2 day training aimed at updating information officers and allied stakeholders on strategies to combat rumours in health care interventions, is also part of the strategies put in place to address identified gaps in information management during epidemics, especially as experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Ayinla further stated that ‘your role is as important as the role of the core health care practitioners, especially in ensuring uptake of health care interventions and that members of our various communities make appropriate use of the facilities being provided by government to improve the health care service delivery space’.

The Permanent Secretary commended the NCDC team in the state for their unflinching support in ensuring Kwara state continues to get it right.

Amongst the Special guests at the training was the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu, who,in her remarks, also appreciated NCDC for including Kwara among the benefiting states of what described as “highly impact filled training”.

The NCDC team lead for the infodemic training, Dr Oluwakemi Falade, urged the participants to use the knowledge acquired at the training to revolutionize the face of information dissemination on health related issues in the state.

Dr Falade expressed delight in the warm reception and cooperation accorded the team in the state, which she said, contributed immensely to the success of the training.

Participants for the Infodemic management training were drawn from relevant state Ministries and local government areas in the state.

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