Kingsley Omoyeni
Peculiar health issues, strained marriages, social risks, assault by audience, communicable infections have been identified as the major cause of most health challenges which Journalists experience while carrying out their as the watchdog of the society.
This is just as Journalists were urged to give ultimate attention to their well-being regardless of the tight schedule and busy nature of their job.
Lecturers at the 2021 Press Week Public Lecture of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Information Chapel, stated these while delivering their papers, noting that health is wealth and should be taken seriously.
In his lecture, titled: “Journalistic Activities in the 21st Century and Health Challenges”, the Guest Lecturer, Professor Peter Babatunde Olaitan, the Chief Medical Director, Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, said it is important for journalists to go for routine medical check up and not wait till they are down ill.
Professor Olaitan also urged journalists to be mindful of their social life, saying there are dangers attached to some of their social culture and mode of relaxation, adding that regular exercise is important for journalists.
“Routine medical check-up, exercises, a healthy living lifestyle minimal alcohol intake, avoidance of exercive drug use and abstinence from smoking are some of the measures we can take to stay healthy”, the medical expert stated.
In his speech as the Special guest and Resource person, Chief Jare Ayo Martins, said it is disheartening that journalists pay less attention to their health, rather they concentrate more on frivolous life styles to measure up to standard of being a public figure.
He acknowledged the fact that the journalism profession is becoming more demanding and tasking, but bemoaned the fact that journalists are not doing enough to ease off the pressure.
“The pressure to meet up deadline is also another factor that gives Journalists health challenges, this is the cause of stress and high blood pressure a lot of Journalists face in the discharge of their job”, the media expert said.
Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode expressed the pain that Journalists who talk and educate the people about their health fail to do the right thing concerning their health.
“Journalists write about everything concerning heath but fail to practice what they preach, It is my hope that today will mark the beginning of a change of attitude among my colleagues in the media world, we need to start doing things better and make a decision to start to practice what we preach”, she stated.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the State Information chapel of the NUJ, Comrade Abdulganiyu Sofiu, said the topic for discussion was chosen because of the situation journalists have found themselves all over the world, saying statistics have it that over 600 journalists have died worldwide due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
The State Information Chapel’s Press Week continues on Wednesday with indoor interschool sports competition under the supervision of the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Honorable Yemi Lawal at Olufunke Resort Center, State Secretariat, Abere Osogbo by 10am.
