Pages: 1-4

Abstract

The 2014 global Ebola outbreak received huge attention from the media as people were constantly informed. The Nigerian media was very active too, probably because billions were budgeted for the outbreak. Ironically, there are more diseases worse than Ebola that have been present, killing people daily, but do not get the kind of media attention that is needed to promote health education. Cancer, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and others, have killed more people than Ebola; children and women lie helplessly in hospitals and herbal homes, people feed unhealthily, fail to exercise properly and live nonchalant lifestyles that distort their health, yet the media especially in Nigeria ignore these diseases. This study therefore highlights the importance of health communication and emphasises the role the media must play in promoting health messages in Nigeria.