In a localized attempt to address the inevitable status of Nigeria as the biggest host of patients of sickle cell anaemia, the Delta state government sponsored a media centered initiative to attract public attention to sickle cell disease as well as to the victims of the disorder. This study examined the influence of the media advocacy campaign on youth’s awareness, knowledge and attitude to the disease using the questionnaire survey method involving 300 participants randomly selected from the capital city, Asaba. The results showed that demographic variables such as age, gender, income and religious affiliations had varying influence on awareness, knowledge and attitude of respondents. Although respondents exhibited modest awareness and knowledge of the disorder, it emerged that they arrived at this level of knowledge through information acquired from sources other than the state sponsored media campaign on sickle cell. The study concluded that the media advocacy campaign on sickle cell disorder was yet to resonate with the target population.

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Agricultural policies and schemes are some of the measures through which the Nigerian government has attempted to address some of her challenges in the agricultural sector. Despite the MDGs/SDGs programs, Nigeria is still faced with extreme poverty, hunger, and poor education. Nigeria’s budgetary allocation is still far from meeting international recommendations of 25% by FAO. Laudable and well thought out agricultural schemes such as “Operation feed the nation”, “Green Revolution”, “River Basin Development”, “Agricultural Development Project” etc were government policies and schemes geared towards the provision of agricultural solutions. If objectives of the SDGs be realized in the country, issues of corruption, insecurity, proper education, and awareness creation etc., must be addressed by all stake holders ranging from the financial sector, the government as well as the mass media. The media are faced with challenges of news policies, brown envelops, loss of job opportunities etc., while most youths lack awareness and proper education about agricultural schemes and funding in Nigeria.

The lack of public awareness and education is the greatest challenge in the fight against Sickle Disease (SCD) in Nigeria. The sufferers of the disease experience debilitating pains, psychological challenges, stigmatization and as a result many have very poor social life style. What enduring step, has the mass media, as a reliable societal medium taken to address the spread of SCD? No serious attention has been given to the use of media technology in the education of the masses on the risk factors of SCD. The mass media has a key role to play in the treatment and management of SCD in Nigeria.

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