Journalists across West Africa have been called upon to move beyond routine, event-driven coverage of HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria and instead adopt ethical, people-focused reporting that emphasises the human rights aspects of these diseases.
This appeal was made by editor and publisher of Nigeria Health Online (NHO), Sam Eferaro during a training session in Lagos organised under the ‘Breaking Down Barriers’ initiative by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The session, which drew participants from different parts of the region, offered practical insights on how the media can become a stronger ally in the fight against these major public health challenges.
Reflecting on the progress and gaps in health journalism, Eferaro referenced a 2006 research study conducted by the International Federation of Journalists, which assessed media coverage of HIV, TB, and malaria in Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, India, Indonesia and Cambodia. While he acknowledged that Nigeria has made strides since then, he stressed that coverage is still too often limited to press briefings, donor announcements, or official statements.
He commended the shift away from stigmatising language in stories about HIV. “We no longer use labels like ‘AIDS victim’ or ‘HIV patient.’ Now, we see people living with HIV as they truly are – people with hopes, families and dreams. Some health facilities even record zero mother-to-child transmission these days, which is commendable,” he said.
However, Eferaro highlighted that surface-level reporting persists. Citing an example, he recalled how a critical story about a logistics crisis in Ghana failed to explore the root cause. “You quoted a single source claiming there was a shortage of HIV commodities. But did you visit the port to see if drugs were stranded? Did you ask customs officials? No. That’s lazy reporting,” he admonished, urging journalists to dig deeper and verify facts on the ground.
The session also explored the impact of economic constraints on health reporting. Eferaro noted that Nigerian journalists often earn meagre sums per story, which hampers their ability to pursue investigative pieces. “Many earn less than five dollars per article. With such pay, how do you expect quality, consistent reporting on TB, malaria, and HIV?” he asked, adding that lack of funding and donor fatigue often push these stories out of the headlines in favour of trending issues.
Crucially, he urged journalists to embed human rights principles in their work. He narrated how he once used a pseudonym for a woman who had lost her children due to poor hospital access to protect her privacy. “Accuracy is important, but so is humanity. Ask yourself: Would you expose your own family’s tragedy this way? Respect people’s dignity and consent, especially for vulnerable groups,” he advised.
Participants agreed that empathy and strong media ethics must guide how health stories are told, especially when reporting sensitive issues like HIV status, loss of loved ones, or community health struggles.
Despite growing awareness of emerging diseases like COVID-19, Ebola and Lassa fever, Eferaro expressed worry about the lack of sustained reporting on malaria, a disease that continues to claim lives across Africa. “Malaria is not hidden; it is our everyday reality. Yet we treat it as newsworthy only on World Malaria Day. We must do better,” he said, calling for more consistent features and investigations that expose gaps in malaria control and treatment.
He described TB as an “invisible epidemic” in many rural communities, where undiagnosed cases persist for years. “People cough endlessly in the villages but never get tested. Eradication is impossible if we don’t find and treat these cases. Journalists have a role in raising awareness about community screening and treatment access,” he said.
He encouraged reporters to work closely with institutions like the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to deepen their understanding of TB realities, engage directly with scientists and patients and tell stories that inspire policy change. Eferaro concluded with a passionate appeal: “Journalism is not just about reporting diseases — it is about reporting human lives. Be bold, be present and above all, be compassionate. If we do this, journalism can truly be a force that helps to end TB, HIV and malaria in our communities.”
