By Asmau Ahmad
Editor of the Health Reporters, Haruna Gimba Yaya, has been selected for the first cohort of the Media Epidemiology, Infodemiology, and Social and Behaviuor Change (Media-EIS) fellowship program.
Gimba is one of the 30 journalists admitted for the fellowship by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET Nigeria).
The three organisations made the announcement in a statement published Tuesday, on their respective social media handles.
“The NCDC, in collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria and the AFENET Nigeria, is proud to announce the first cohort of the Media Epidemiology, Infodemiology, and Social and Behavior Change (Media-EIS) fellowship program to strengthen health reporting in Nigeria.
“The fellowship will provide journalists with comprehensive training, mentorship, and field exposure to report more accurately and responsibly, thereby contributing to Nigeria’s effective management of infectious diseases.
“A cohort of 30 passionate media practitioners will undergo training to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health events,” the organisations announced.
According to them, the Media EIS Programme will provide the fellows with skills in basic epidemiology, effective social & behaviuor change communication as well as infodemic management.
“A critical part of combatting public health events is accurate and timely reporting by media experts. Management of public health emergencies requires qualified media practitioners who can provide life-saving information.
“The Media-EIS Fellowship aims to fill the information gap and combat misinformation during events of public health importance,” it added.
Haruna Gimba, a Gombe State born journalist obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication and Masters in Communications Studies from Bayero University, Kano in 2010 and 2016 respectively.
He has been practicing journalism across broadcast, print and online platforms since his graduation from university in 2010. He won numerous awards, attended several conferences, seminars and workshops as well as covered international events both within and outside the country.
From January 2016 to May 2020, he edited the Health Reporters and appointed as the substantive Editor of Health Reporters in December 2020, working alongside other team members of the Africa’s Online Health Newspapers.
His journalism skills were sharpened by over 12 years working with the Daly Trust Newspapers and worked briefly as its Bureau Chief at the Sokoto Bureau Office of Daily Trust Newspapers. He now freelances with the Daily Trust Newspapers as their correspondent from Gombe State.
Founded in August 2014, Health Reporters (HR) is an online Health Newspaper, a non-profit platform hosted by the AHBN. It raises the visibility of health by reporting factual news and events, analyzing health issues as well as promoting accountability and transparency for health and other determinants of health in Africa.
