The Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a swift and proactive response to the growing threat of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) following outbreaks reported in parts of Africa.
In a statement jointly signed by HEWAN President, Vivian Ihechu, and Secretary, Temitope Obayendo, the association praised the President’s decision to establish a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and approve N10 billion in emergency intervention funding.
HEWAN described the move as timely, noting that increasing international travel and cross-border movement make proactive preparedness essential to preventing the importation of the disease into Nigeria.
The association, however, urged the Federal Government to include specialized health journalists, particularly members of HEWAN, in the Presidential Task Force, arguing that effective public health communication is critical during disease outbreaks.
According to HEWAN, public health emergencies require not only clinical and scientific responses but also strategic communication capable of delivering accurate information to the public and countering misinformation.
The association recalled the role played by health journalists during Nigeria’s successful containment of the Ebola outbreak in 2014, noting that trained health reporters helped translate complex medical information into practical guidance for the public and countered dangerous rumours that circulated during the crisis.
HEWAN maintained that integrating health writers into the task force would strengthen public awareness campaigns, improve community engagement and help ensure that accurate information reaches Nigerians across diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The association also argued that health journalists could help the government combat misinformation, conspiracy theories and vaccine hesitancy, particularly on digital platforms where false information can spread rapidly.
It further noted that the inclusion of HEWAN members would provide direct access to grassroots communication networks, enabling health advisories and preventive measures to reach remote communities more quickly.
The group warned that excluding professional health communicators from the response framework could create information gaps that may undermine public compliance with health directives.
HEWAN stressed that successful disease containment depends on strong collaboration between health authorities, policymakers, the media and the public.
The association reaffirmed its readiness to support national efforts aimed at protecting public health and strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness against potential Ebola outbreaks.