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.

Muhammed said both ministries needed to work together to educate residents on Ebola transmission, prevention and other public health issues.

He said, “Public enlightenment on government policies, programmes and activities is one of the core responsibilities of the department.”

The director said his department could support the Ministry of Health through 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.

Also speaking, the Chief Information Officer, 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, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Taoheed Abdullahi, commended the delegation for the initiative.

“Most of the activities of the Ministry of Health revolve around disease prevention, control and treatment,” she said.

The commissioner said effective collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies was essential to achieving better health outcomes.

She added, “Public awareness should not be limited to periods of disease outbreaks but should be sustained as a continuous exercise.”

El-Imam also called for the collaboration to be extended to other directorates within the Ministry of Health.

Similarly, the Director of Medical Services and Training, Musilihu Odunaiya, said public sensitisation plays a role in promoting behavioural change and sustaining development goals.

He said the Ministry of Health implemented several programmes across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Odunaiya said the involvement of the Ministry of Communications would enhance public participation and awareness.

He said he expected the partnership to benefit both ministries and support public health education in the state.

The statement said the meeting ended with a commitment by both ministries to strengthen collaboration on public enlightenment, disease prevention and control, and the dissemination of health information to residents.