Role of Media is Critical In Containing Emergencies – UNICEF
Role of Media is Critical In Containing Emergencies – UNICEF
By ALEX UANGBAOJE
Participants at a workshop on "Emergency Preparedness Planning and Update of State Contingency", organized by UNICEF for SEMAs and other stakeholders in emergency management in both the North-west and North-central states, during group work
In order to create partnership and a more purposeful results oriented approach to effectively contain emergencies situation in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified the role of the media as very critical in that respect.
Delivering a paper titled “Media and Emergency” Rabiu Musa, Media and External Relations Officer, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, explained that media team should be seen as an integral part of the entire work in responding to emergencies.
Participants at a workshop on "Emergency Preparedness Planning and Update of State Contingency", organized by UNICEF for SEMAs and other stakeholders in emergency management in both the North-west and North-central states, during group work
Rabiu stated this in Kano at a workshop on “Emergency Preparedness Planning and Update of State Contingency”, organized by UNICEF for SEMAs and other stakeholders in emergency management in both the North-west and North-central states.
According to him, ”It is very important because people need to know what is happening around them, the progress, the updates, and how they can respond.
Participants at a workshop on "Emergency Preparedness Planning and Update of State Contingency", organized by UNICEF for SEMAs and other stakeholders in emergency management in both the North-west and North-central states, during group work
“In this context only the media can tell the exact situations as it affect the the people, situations as the people will understand as being in a position to do or not to do depending on the situation that is required of them.
”So in addressing emergency issues the technical team must work with the media so that the society from the larger context will understand the situation so we can take steps and guide ourselves in that respect.
”The media team should be seen as an integral part of the entire work in responding to emergencies, we must intertwined and work together because we need each other.
“The media must not lose sight but should understand the workings of every agency in charge of managing and responding to emergencies from both local to international bodies, so that at the end of the day everybody is aware of the happenings around him or her and this is what we are saying.
Participants at a workshop on "Emergency Preparedness Planning and Update of State Contingency", organized by UNICEF for SEMAs and other stakeholders in emergency management in both the North-west and North-central states, during group work
He submitted that what is important is delivering an effective services to the people is deliberate efforts to demonstrate evidence as emergencies requires collective effort to manage all stakeholders.
He therefore called on emergency response managers to see the media as partners in progress if they want to achieve a more purposeful results in creating effective communication with the public.
