By BANNERNEWS Reporter
World Health Fellows have sought a strategic media partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, to strengthen health advocacy and community-based interventions across the state.
The Fellows made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar on Friday, January 9, 2026, where they outlined their vision for sustained collaboration with the media in advancing public health outcomes.
Speaking for the delegation, representatives said the group’s work goes beyond isolated projects, focusing instead on long-term development outreaches implemented in partnership with government institutions, communities and the media.
They disclosed that the Fellows are already engaging the Cross River State Ministry of Health and are implementing several initiatives targeted at improving health awareness and service delivery, particularly among young people.
According to them, the programme serves as a platform for grooming young health leaders in leadership, policy engagement and project organisation, while delivering impact-driven interventions at community level.
One of the flagship initiatives highlighted is a sexual and reproductive health programme targeting about 700 students, designed to reach both girls and boys, with emphasis on inclusive health education and responsible behaviour among adolescents.
The Fellows stressed that involving boys alongside girls is critical to achieving lasting behavioural change, noting that health education should be preventive and not limited to those already affected by illness.
They also unveiled plans for a pilot vocational and economic empowerment project that will train students in practical skills, including the production of reusable sanitary materials, to ease financial pressure on families and promote self-reliance.
Members who have led self-funded sensitisation campaigns in rural local government areas reported worrying levels of early pregnancies and poor awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, expressing confidence that stronger media support would help scale up interventions.
Responding, the NUJ Cross River leadership welcomed the delegation, pledged media support through consistent coverage, and highlighted the union’s Padbank Mobile Outreach, expressing readiness for joint programmes to deepen health education and menstrual hygiene management across the state.
