AFRO-NETS> Health statistics for health reporters in Nigeria

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Health statistics for health reporters in Nigeria
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Dear All,

In Nigeria as elsewhere in the world, media organizations regularly 
report figures, or shall we say "health statistics", on population, 
reproductive and general health issues without due regards to how 
such reports advance public and policy understanding of the reported 
"statistics", issues and or problem.

In furtherance of its objective to assist in building capacity in 
health reporters in Nigeria, the Centre for Health Policy and Strate-
gic Studies, (CHPSS) on Wednesday, February 20, 2002 held a one-day 
seminar on: "Understanding Health Statistics for Health Reporters". 
Target audience was strictly members of the Health Communicators' Fo-
rum. 

Dr. Jennifer Anyanti of the Society for Family Health in Lagos led 
the seminar.

Eleven health reporters from electronic and print media houses repre-
senting eight different but major media organisations in Nigeria were 
present.

With the kind generosity of the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), 
Washington, USA, each participant went home with a copy each of PRB's 
Population handbook and Africa Library CD-ROM for their independent 
use in private study.

At the end of the seminar, all the participants expressed different 
views as to what they gained from the seminar and how they would use 
health statistics for advancing public knowledge about population, 
reproductive and general health issue in Nigeria. 

Said one female participant: "This seminar was an eye opener. Yes, I 
receive a lot of statistical figures regularly in my work days espe-
cially from the multi-lateral agencies. I just use them in my reports 
as I have been given. This seminar has given me more insight into how 
I can better use health statistics in ways that the lay public and my 
policy audiences can benefit more from".

She continued: "I also now know that statistics can be manipulated to 
tell different stories depending on the agenda of the source. I would 
use skills acquired in this seminar to critically evaluate the credi-
bility, validity and agenda behind the figures I get before I use 
them from now on".

Membership of the Health Communicators' Forum is freely open to all 
practitioners of health communication in Nigeria. To be a member of 
the Forum, send a short note requesting to join and attach a short 
resume to:

Yemi Abodunrin
Secretary to the Health Communicators' Forum
CHPSS
34 Town Planning Way, Ilupeju
P.O. Box 7597, Ikeja
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com
http://www.expage.com/chpsshomepage

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