The Kwara State Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Health have agreed to strengthen collaboration on public sensitisation campaigns to educate residents on the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease and other public health concerns.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Information Officer of the Ministry of Communications, Ishaq Joke.

According to the statement, the Director of Public Orientation in the ministry, Issa Muhammed, called for the collaboration during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Health, saying both ministries needed to work together to educate residents on Ebola transmission, prevention and other public health issues.

Muhammed said public enlightenment on government policies, programmes and activities is one of the core responsibilities of his department, adding that the department is well positioned to support the Ministry of Health through its various communication strategies including jingles, flyers, roadshows and other public awareness initiatives.

He cited a recent jingle produced by the department through the Head of Service, urging civil servants to avoid wastage of government resources, as an example of the department’s work in driving behavioural change.

Also speaking, the Chief Information Officer in the department, Abdulrazaq Yusuf, said the department was ready to collaborate with the Health Ministry in producing jingles, flyers and other publicity materials for the sensitisation campaign.

Responding, the Commissioner for Health, Amina Ahmed El-Imam, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Taoheed Abdullahi, commended the delegation for the initiative, noting that most activities of the Ministry of Health revolve around disease prevention, control and treatment.

Also speaking, the Director of Medical Services and Training, Musilihu Odunaiya, said public sensitisation plays a critical role in promoting behavioural change and sustaining development goals, adding that the Health Ministry implements several programmes across the 16 local government areas of the state. Both ministries at the end of the meeting pledged to strengthen collaboration on public enlightenment, disease prevention and control, and dissemination of health information to residents.