27 April - WASH IEC material development and media involvement: a Nigerian workshop tests safe water, sanitation and hygiene messages

 

A four day workshop was held from 20th to 25th April 2009 at the Crest Hotel, Jos, Nigeria, organized by the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) with support from the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Geneva, Switzerland.

The theme for the workshop was “promotion of safe water, sanitation and hygiene”. The objectives were to increase the knowledge of media personnel on basic sanitation and hygiene issues; to develop appropriate information, education and communication materials for sanitation and hygiene promotion and to translate key messages for sanitation and hygiene into four major Nigerian languages. Participants were drawn from the print and electronic media as well as NGOs.

The workshop included lectures, message development and translations, as well as pre-testing of designed materials. At the end of the workshop, the following recommendations were made:

1. The translated key messages should be aired by media houses at appropriate times.
2. Participants should be able to positively change Governments’ perceptions of sanitation and hygiene for positive action.
3. Participants should use these materials to promote sanitation and hygiene issues.
4. Media participants should be supported by Government at all levels, UNICEF, WATERAID and WSSCC as they continue to promote sanitation and hygiene issues in Nigeria.

For more information contact David Trouba at troubad[at]who.int.