NPHCDA to partner filmmakers on polio

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day orientation /capacity building workshop on polio eradication campaign for Hausa home video practitioners organized by NPHCDA in Kano last Saturday.

 It was also agreed that proposals for messages will be developed as soon as possible and presented to NPHCDA through Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MOPPAN).

 The communiqué also stated that MOPPAN will serve as a quality controller for the production of such messages while the materials produced will serve as effective tools in reaching audience members across northern Nigeria and beyond.

 Speaking during the workshop, a media consultant and Kano State Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Abubakar Usman Gotomo said the aim of the workshop was to promote the campaign against polio through home video considering its large viewership in northern Nigeria.

 Gotomo said the workshop was also aimed at exposing participants to the broad objectives of polio eradication campaign, to improve the knowledge of the participants about polio issues and routine immunization as well as to expand partnership of polio campaign to include filmmakers.

 He also highlighted the challenges of communicating polio issues in northern Nigeria saying, Hausa home video has been identified as one of the ways through which communicating polio issues could be enhanced.

 Also speaking, representative of MOPPAN at the workshop, Ahmed Al-Kanawi pledged the commitment of the association in ensuring that the aims of the workshop are achieved.

 Al-Kanawi also emphasized the role of Hausa films in promoting issues like polio and the likes. He assured that a number of Hausa films will henceforth focus on the campaign against polio.

 Over 60 filmmakers from Katina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno and Kano States participated at the workshop. Also present were representatives of the state government and other agencies working against polio.