Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
The President-elect of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Dr Kaltume Shuaibu, has called on journalists to intensify public awareness campaigns on childhood cancer to promote early recognition and timely medical intervention.
Shuaibu, a paediatrician, made the call while speaking at a training on maternal and child health reporting organised by Bauchi chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
She described childhood cancer as an often-neglected health challenge surrounded by fear, misconceptions, misinformation and inadequate public awareness.
According to her, many children present at healthcare facilities with advanced diseases because of delayed recognition of symptoms and late diagnosis.
She urged journalists to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of seeking medical attention when children exhibit persistent or unusual symptoms.
Shuaibu identified persistent fever, unexplained paleness and weight loss among symptoms that should prompt medical assessment, stressing that such signs should not automatically be interpreted as cancer but should not be ignored.
She said journalists had a critical role in bridging the information gap by providing accurate health information and encouraging families to seek professional medical advice.
The paediatrician also called for stronger collaboration between healthcare professionals and the media to improve public understanding of childhood cancer.
She maintained that responsible health reporting could contribute to early detection, better treatment outcomes and reduced childhood cancer deaths.
In her remarks, NAWOJ Chairperson Rashida Yusuf, called on female journalists to intensify reporting on maternal and child health issues to promote public awareness, strengthen advocacy and hold relevant authorities accountable for healthcare delivery.
Yusuf said female journalists had a critical responsibility to give visibility to issues affecting women and children, particularly at the grassroots level.
“As female journalists, we have a very important role to play in promoting maternal and child health by giving visibility to issues affecting women and children,” she said.
She stressed the need for journalists to amplify the voices of women and children while ensuring that government and relevant authorities were held accountable for their policies, programmes and interventions.
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