By Joy Salami
The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), has embarked on a active engagement with key stakeholders to enhance the fight against malaria in Kogi State with a view to getting feedback on its pre-testing exercise.
The advocacy exercise, which took the team to the State Ministry of Health, the Police Headquarters, and the office of The Graphic Newspaper in Lokoja, was designed to ensure the materials are clear, relatable, and effective in reaching target audiences, including the media, security agencies, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.
Director and Health Educator at the Kogi State Ministry of Health, Mr. Matthew Olimodu, said the visit was part of efforts to ensure the advocacy kit’s language, colours, and messaging align with local realities.
We want stakeholders’ input, corrections, and observations so that the material will achieve the desired results when rolled out, he stated.
NMEP consultant, Ms. Linda Osagie, explained that the pre-testing was to make sure the brief avoids overly technical language and communicates messages stakeholders can easily understand and act upon.
Developing an advocacy brief nationally is not enough. We are adapting it for state use, but first, we must test it to ensure its effectiveness, she said.
Welcoming the team, Managing Director of The Graphic Newspaper, Mr. Yusuf Itopa, commended NMEP for its proactive approach, noting that malaria elimination is not just a health issue but also a development concern.
He pledged that the organisation’s editorial and reporting teams would give robust coverage to NMEP’s activities.
“As a media house, we have a responsibility to inform, educate, and mobilise the public on health matters,” Mr. Itopa said. We will work closely with your team to ensure the right messages reach the grassroots, because the fight against malaria requires everyone’s involvement.
The NMEP team is expected to finalise the materials after incorporating feedback from stakeholders across the state.
