An estimated quarter of the deaths of children under five in Nigeria is caused by diarrhoea and pneumonia.
The number of children in Nigeria who die before their fifth birthday is one of the highest in the world. Diarrhoea and pneumonia are the cause of approximately 240,000 of these deaths every year.
The situation is particularly acute in rural areas of northern Nigeria, where health systems and essential medicines are lacking and communities need information and support to implement basic, life-saving changes.
The power of radio
The project aimed to tackle this situation by using radio and face to face communication to improve knowledge about diarrhoea and pneumonia symptoms, and by explaining how people can seek the right treatment for children.
Six series of 大象传媒 Media Action鈥檚 radio drama, Nebor Mi Nebor (Neighbour my Neighbour), were broadcast from October 2014 on our partner radio stations in Benue state in the east and Kebbi state in the north of Nigeria.
Recognising that content made about and by local people has the greatest impact, 大象传媒 Media Action鈥檚 trainers worked with local media houses to develop new radio shows. These gave vital information about family health and aimed to improve parents鈥� confidence to seek the right help when children fall ill.
Reaching remote communities
Sixteen 鈥渕edia dark kits鈥� provided life-saving information to people who don鈥檛 have access to radio, whether because of poor media penetration in their area, inability to afford batteries, or because of cultural and religious barriers.
Packed full of Pidgin English and Hausa language audio clips from Nebor Mi Nebor and other 大象传媒 Media Action Hausa output, the kits were used by facilitators to lead discussions and activities in community groups about what can be done to stop pneumonia and diarrhoea.
Project information
| Project name | Media and Communications to Shape Demands and Practice for Family Health in Nigeria |
| Funder | |
| Dates | 2013-2016 |
| Theme | Health |
| Outputs | Radio drama Nebor my Nebor; radio PSAs; locally produced radio shows; face-to-face and community discussions; and mHealth research. |
| Broadcast partners | 大象传媒 World Service in Afghanistan, Internews Tanin network, Education Radio and Television ERTV |
| Partner |
Our projects in Nigeria
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Challenging attitudes on disability: The return of Story Story
Our popular radio drama reflecting the lives of ordinary Nigerians is back on air across sub-Saharan Africa with a new focus 鈥� to transform attitudes around people with disabilities, with storylines, actors and writers that reflect their experiences. -
Inclusive Futures: media for a fairer world
As part of the Inclusive Futures consortium, we鈥檙e working through media to improve knowledge of the rights of people with disabilities, and challenging stigma, discrimination and negative social norms related to people with disabilities. -
Leave no one behind: Improving participation in the 2019 Nigerian Elections
We鈥檙e helping people in Nigeria become more involved in political processes and hold their leaders to account. With an emphasis on reaching young people, women, and people with disabilities, our content aims to ensure traditionally marginalised groups are heard. -
Helping improve child health through radio in Nigeria
Helping families and the wider community make informed decisions about childhood immunisation - with the aim of reducing preventable death and disability. -
Encouraging accountability in Nigeria
大象传媒 Media Action's radio dramas and discussion shows are encouraging political accountability in Nigeria. -
Tackling pneumonia and diarrhoea in Nigeria
A multiplatform media project - running between 2014 and 2016 - aiming to stop two of the biggest killers of children under five in Nigeria. -
Improving family health in northern Nigeria
Weekly radio show Ya Take Ne Arewa (What鈥檚 Happening up North) tackles health issues facing women, families and communities. -
Responding to HIV and AIDS in Nigeria
Between 2009 and 2014 大象传媒 Media Action provided accurate information about HIV and AIDS and tackled stigma through radio shows, short films and training for media professionals.
