A non-governmental organisation, Media Practitioners Health Initiative (MEPHI), has urged the President of the Nigeria Union of journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, to ensure that the health of members of the union is prioritised by their employers.
In a congratulatory letter to Yahaya on his recent election by MEPHI Coordinator, Uche Ugboajah, he tasked the new NUJ leadership to equally prioritise improved access to healthcare for Nigerian journalists.
MEPHI noted that the welfare of journalists, particularly their health, is crucial to the effective discharge of their duties, and urged the NUJ to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to promote healthy newsrooms across the country.
MEPHI expressed its readiness to partner with the NUJ to achieve this goal, and commended Comrade Yahaya on his past efforts in defending the rights of journalists.
Ugboajah, stated that MEPHI’s mission is to promote healthy living and access to quality healthcare for media professionals, and that the organisation is committed to supporting the NUJ in its efforts to improve the welfare of its members.
The letter reads: “We write to congratulate you on your recent election as National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), at the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference of the Union held in Owerri, Imo State.
“Your wide margin of victory over your opponents clearly showed your nationwide acceptance by members of this great union, which of course is predicated on your record of service to the profession, and your doggedness in defending the rights of journalists over the years.
“We, therefore, enjoin you to see your election as a higher call to service to the nation and to the body of journalists, especially their rights to healthcare and healthy living, which our organization, MEPHI, champions.
“We look forward to collaborating with you in our mission to promote healthy newsrooms across the country through improved access to healthcare for Nigerian journalists.”
