The Role Of Radio And Inter-personal Communication In Eradication Of Malaria In Nigeria

This paper examines the impact or possibly the role of radio and interpersonal communication in combating malaria in Nigeria. Malaria no doubt is a global problem with outstanding impact in Africa. The situation calls for concern and all possible means and strategies to ameliorate it. This paper therefore evaluates various health programs on radio and locally interpersonal dissemination of information in the process of waging war against malaria. 

Having explored various literatures which clearly indicate the relevance and the application of communication and mass media in general in the process of combating the scourge of malaria the world over, the study specifically adopts a survey method to try the opinion of Nigerian residents on the impact of radio and interpersonal communication in preventing malaria attacks. 

Based on the results of determinations, the study concludes that radio and interpersonal communication are really efficient, complementary and capable of making great impact on the populace in reducing and preventing the attacks of malaria cases. Therefore, the study strongly recommends more of health programs on various radio stations and interpersonal communication to address issues relating to malaria in Nigeria. 

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

References

 

The growth of any nation from observation and the experience of the developed nations of the world should bear upon each other on several publications and social institutions within the country or the club. The quest for development which became so popular in the late 1950s among the African countries and other developing countries was described as a multidimensional phenomenon which requires many integrated approaches (Oso 1990, page - 68).

Looked at the literal level as the melioration of the well being of the person and the amelioration of the quality of his or her life, development in any society is an interface of varied but sensitive issues such as the improved health maintenance organization, agricultural development, economic growth of the nation, technical advancement, improved human values, safer infrastructure, democracy and good political values, practical-based and standard education among other subjects.

Scholars of communication and other disciplines have all identified mass media and communications in general as important social agents in the form of developing any society. Communication and mass media serve the function of extending public education and advancing innovation in health control. Cited by Oso (1990, page - 68).

Mass media communication is social institutions that serve the society by gathering, writing and distributing news of the day. Gambo (2008). He further states that the mass media have the whole people as an audience and this fact more than any other thing else makes their social and strategic importance apparent in any country. Consequently, the media being strategically located in the scheme of things in the society could and should play a central role in the education of the general public.

Having noted earlier that improved health system undoubtedly is also a major issue in the developmental drive of any nation, that is, continued battle against epidemics and other killer diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, HIV/AIDS, cholera, diarrhea, diabetes and so on, -which mostly characterise developing countries, it has equally been observed over the years that mass media (radio, television etc) and interpersonal communications in general have a greater role to play particularly in educating the general public on the causes, symptoms, effects and prevention of these diseases which constitute issues in the public health system.

Most importantly, a clear and specific mention was given to malaria owning to its level of deadliness and the pace at which the parasite is laying waste to the rural areas of the world most especially the developing countries. This demonstrates that attempts to combat malaria are efforts toward the growth of whatever countries affected. In addressing the problems of issues of public health in general, it has long been seen that the situation of mass media and communications cannot be overemphasized.