…calls for destigmatization of people living with HIV

Titilola Obilade, professor and physician, emphasizes the great financial and social benefits of effective health education.

Obilade made this revelation during the first inaugural lecture of the Nile University in Nigeria, titled ‘Health Messaging: Currency for Today, Savings for Tomorrow’.

According to her, health messaging, which simply means health awareness, when implemented effectively acts as a “currency” that produces significant “savings” by preventing disease, reducing health care costs, and improving the overall well-being of the community.

She noted that the economic returns from health education may not be immediately apparent, but they are vital in securing a healthier future for all.

One of the most important aspects of her talk was the importance of visual literacy in health communication.

Obilade stressed that incorporating visual literacy into education from the preschool level is crucial, given the ubiquitous access to smartphones among children. She argued that visual literacy can increase the effectiveness of health messages, making them more accessible and impactful.

She said: “Visual literacy should be included in the curriculum from the nursery level. This should be easy to achieve as children now have access to smartphones from birth. Without a conscious effort to teach the subject, being able to navigate a smartphone does not necessarily translate into visual literacy.

“The package inserts for medicines should be written at different levels, not just at a grade 12 reading level. At best, it should be written at a level that everyone can understand.

“Therefore, the information leaflets can simply be written at reading level 3 or in a language that is accessible to everyone. This is a recommendation for our government.”

She also discussed the importance of tailoring health messages to the audience, using her extensive involvement with students and communities in Nigeria and the US as examples.

Her recommendations include making medication leaflets understandable at a lower reading level, improving educational opportunities for people with visual and hearing impairments, and increasing the availability of cochlear implants.

The professor also stressed the need for civic engagement that benefits both students and the community. He suggested that students be taught corporate social responsibility to avoid community fatigue.

Obilade traced the history of health messaging back to ancient times, describing its evolution and the continuing challenges it faces today, including resistance to scientific guidelines, a challenge highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

She also called for the establishment of more adult day care centers in Nigeria, recalling her volunteer experience at Virginia Tech.

stresses the importance of mental health awareness, especially at higher education level, and the need to end discrimination against people living with HIV in the labour market.

Her talk also included an impassioned plea for more public health campaigns on sickle cell disease and mandatory genotyping of newborns to effectively combat the disease.

In his opening address, Dilli Dogo, Vice Chancellor of Nile University, stressed the importance of the inaugural lecture series in enriching existing knowledge and contributing to the intellectual advancement of the university community and policy makers.

He said: “This inaugural lecture marks the beginning of a series of intellectual gatherings that will not only showcase the scholarly achievements of our esteemed faculty but also add significant value to the existing body of knowledge.

“It is a testament to our commitment to academic excellence and our dedication to tackling real-world challenges through rigorous academic inquiry, research and innovation.”