As Nigeria continues to battle high rates of anaemia, particularly among women and children, media professionals have been challenged to take the lead in driving public awareness, influencing policy and mobilising communities to address the silent public health crisis.
The call was made at the opening of a three-day high-level media capacity-building workshop in Abuja, organised by Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), aimed at strengthening journalism-driven advocacy against anaemia nationwide.
Tagged “Media as a Catalyst for an Anaemia-Free Nigeria,” the workshop brings together journalists, communications experts and development partners to deepen understanding of anaemia, its causes, health impacts and prevention strategies, with a strong focus on scaling up the use of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS).
Speaking at the event, CS-SUNN Executive Director, Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, described anaemia as a major contributor to maternal mortality in Nigeria, noting that the condition often goes unnoticed despite its devastating consequences.
“Anaemia is a silent killer, particularly among pregnant women and children. Tackling it requires sustained public enlightenment, informed reporting and strong collaboration between the media and health advocates,” he said.
Okoronkwo stressed that deliberate media engagement is critical to shaping public attitudes, influencing decision-makers and ensuring nutrition interventions receive the attention they deserve.
He also expressed concern over the limited availability of MMS in some states, urging policymakers to prioritise its procurement and distribution.
CS-SUNN Senior Communications Officer, Ms Lilian Okafor, challenged journalists to use their platforms strategically to simplify anaemia-related messages and make them accessible to audiences across all social and economic backgrounds, stressing that effective storytelling can drive behavioural change.
Also speaking, CS-SUNN Communications and Campaign Manager, Mr Peters Olushola, said the training was designed to equip journalists with the skills to produce compelling, evidence-based stories that align with national nutrition priorities, while enhancing understanding of anaemia prevalence, prevention and MMS scale-up.
The workshop also featured technical and storytelling sessions, including a presentation on Nigeria’s nutrition situation by a representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Development, and a session on human-interest reporting that emphasised localising anaemia stories to reflect community realities and amplify the benefits of nutrition interventions.
The organisers said the workshop is expected to strengthen accurate and impactful media reporting on anaemia, support informed public discourse and contribute to national efforts to reduce malnutrition and achieve an anaemia-free Nigeria.