THE ROLE OF LAGOS STATE TELEVISION (LTV) ON SICKLE CELL DISORDER ENLIGHTENMENT

 

Angie Osarieme Igbinoba¹*, Oladokun Omojola², Ebenezer Oludayo Soola³, Lanre Amodu⁴ Oyinkansola Omolade Oketoki⁵

¹Ms., Lecturer II, Covenant University, NIGERIA, angie.igbinoba@covenantuniversity.edu.ng, angie.osarieme@gmail.com

²Dr., Assoc. Prof., Covenant University, NIGERIA, oladokun.omojola@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

³Prof., University of Ibadan, NIGERIA, eosoola@yahoo.com

⁴Dr. Assoc. Prof., Covenant University, NIGERIA, lanre.amodu@covenantuniversity.edu.ng

⁵ Ms., Graduate, Covenant University, NIGERIA, oyinkansola.oketoki@yahoo.com

*Corresponding Author

Abstract

Sickle cell anaemia, as revealed by The National Institute of Health, affects 72,000 people in the United States, primarily African Americans (Eckman, 2008). The populous nature of Nigeria, according to Professor Olu Akinyanju, Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, has given rise to over 40 million Nigerian carriers of the S gene and an estimate of 150,000 Nigerian children born each year with sickle cell anaemia (HbSS), the prevailing type of sickle cell disorder (SCD) in this region of the world.

The researchers describe SCD as a global malady which transcends from progenitors, who are carriers of red blood cell disorders, to their biological descendants. WHO (2008) stress that the inheritance of abnormal haemoglobin from parents having either the sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease, by sickle cell anaemia patients, is for life. Although the physical remedy to Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) remains unknown and the stigmatization of SCD victims seems to know no bounds, promoting healthy living among SS carriers helps to alleviate recurrent cases of health crises or even death among Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) victims.

Given the established mass media functions of informing, educating and setting agenda for the public, it is expected that the Nigerian media industry be involved in promoting healthy living among SCD victims. Since the broadcast media are noted for availability and accessibility amongst diverse categories of individuals in any given society, the researchers deemed it appropriate to undertake a study on The Role Of Lagos State Television (LTV) On Sickle Cell Disorder Enlightenment to examine the role of the broadcast medium in the fight against SCD and the stigmatization of SCD victims.

The study aimed at: Knowing how LTV enlightens the public on SCD; discovering the extent of SCD enlightenment that is gained through exposure to LTV media messages; and knowing the perception of the public on SCD victims based on what the mass media portrays to them. Out of 123 questionnaire copies that were administered to the undergraduates of Covenant University (CU), 121 questionnaire copies were completed appropriately and returned. Five media personnel from Lagos Television (LTV), two victims of SCD and a medical practitioner were interviewed for the study. Out of the 121 respondents, 68.6% (83) were female while 31.4% (38) were male.

Results showed a low level of SCD enlightenment from LTV amongst CU undergraduates although majority, indicated by 79.3% (that is 96) of CU undergraduates had prior knowledge about SCD while the remaining 20.7% (that is 25) of CU undergraduates had no idea about SCD. The Nigerian broadcast media and LTV, in particular, need to improve on their dissemination of health messages to the public by creating more content on issues of national and global concern such as SCD and the stigmatization of SCD victims. They are, as further recommendations, obligated to liaise with the government at all levels and health institutions to execute the sustainable development goal of ensuring wellbeing for all.

Keywords: Broadcast Media, CU, Enlightenment, LTV, SCD, Victims.