ASSESSMENT OF BROADCAST MEDIA ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST LASSA FEVER

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the role of Broadcast Media in the fight against Lassa fever.. The study was birthed out of the paradigm efforts and general role of Broadcast Media in combating the ravaging and menace of Lassa fever in Nigerian societies. Past studies have revealed the possible manners at which Lassa fever can be eradicated. The actual goal of this study was to find out the level of exposure to the broadcast media messages on lass fever, to highlight the roles of Broadcast Media in the fight against Lassa fever, to ascertain the involvement level of Broadcast Media against Lassa fever, to determine the influence Broadcast Media campaigns against Lassa fever on the audience, to identify the challenges hindering Broadcast Media campaigns against Lassa fever.  Survey research design was adopted with a sample size of 100, whereby questionnaire was used as the primary instrument of data collection. The data were subsequently analysed and clearly presented in simple percentage table. It was found in the course this study that Internet is largest most patronized digital form of broadcast media and followed by radio/television.It was found also that the residents of Egor Local Government Area of Edo state are massively aware of the ravaging impact of Lassa fever in the state and Nigeria at large, it was also discovered that people have learnt to take precautionary measures like covering of their food and getting rid of anything that can attract the disease carrier to their domains through broadcast media’s awareness creations. It was still found that some people are still yet to be aware of Lassa fever’s rage in the society and are yet to adopt right precautionary measures. Hence this study recommends that Programmes dedicated solely to sensitization on Lassa fever should be often created on Broadcast Media, medically inclined personalities should be invited periodically on Broadcast Media to give speeches on important subject in relation to the disease so as to have more persuasive and detailed information on Lassa fever, Broadcast media stations should be appropriately funded by the government and health related programmes should be rightly sponsored by viable organisations, companies and individuals and finally, the masses should always give attention to media broadcast messages in order to save themselves from dangers that could have been averted. The conclusion was made that Lassa fever has killed several people and it is still in existence but the right information through the right channels and media as this study revealed would suffice to save lives.