… Plans Lassa Fever international conference in Abidjan Sept 22
The West African Health Organization (WAHO), has intensified efforts geared towards bringing noticeable communication gaps that tend to hinder effective regional health advocacy.
One of such initiatives is the strategic communication workshop, which opened in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Monday in preparation for the second Lassa Fever International Conference scheduled to hold in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from September 22 – 26, 2025.
The two-day workshop on “Bridging Communication Gaps for Effective Regional Health Advocacy,” organised under the leadership of the Director-General of WAHO, Melchior Athanase Joël C. AISSI, brought together communication focal persons from all stakeholders to review the current communication landscape, identify barriers to effective collaboration, and develop an integrated communications plan for the conference and beyond.
According to the concept paper, the decision to organise the workshop was informed by the realization that the success of regional health programmes and coalitions depends significantly on effective, timely, and coordinated communication, especially in the context of multi-stakeholder collaborations such as the upcoming Second ECOWAS Lassa fever International Conference (LIC).
It noted that WAHO, the Coalition Secretariat Partners (CSP), the ECOWAS Commission, and Member States were collaborating to convene this high-level conference aimed at galvanising political will, advancing prevention and enhancing preparedness, and strengthening regional response to Lassa Fever in West Africa.
Lassa fever, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 2-21 days duration that occurs in West Africa. It is said to be caused by Lassa virus, an arenavirus known to be responsible for a severe haemorrhagic fever characterised by fever, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and, chest and abdominal pain.
The virus exhibits persistent, asymptomatic infection with profuse urinary virus excretion in the ubiquitous rodent vector, Mastomys natalensis.
Some studies indicate that 300,000 to 500,000 cases of Lassa fever and 5,000 deaths occur yearly across West Africa.
Regrettably, he said, the workshop organisers say, communication gaps among these stakeholders had led to inefficiencies, misunderstandings and delays in implementing activities, particularly around the 2nd LIC.
“As the region prepares for this major health conference and other critical initiatives, it is imperative to address these gaps and design a coherent, unified communication approach that amplifies the coalition’s impact, ensures alignment among key partners, and supports visibility and engagement across all levels,” WAHO said.
It is against this background that WAHO organised the two-day strategy workshop with the objective of identifying and analysing communication gaps between CSP, WAHO, ECOWAS, Member States and key partners.
The other objective of the workshop is to foster mutual understanding of each entity’s communication roles, responsibilities, needs, and expectations.
It also aims at developing a unified communication strategy for the 2nd ECOWAS LIC; Defining clear roles, responsibilities and communication protocols to enhance coordination and; Defining a joint roadmap for sustained communications, collaboration, and advocacy across the region, leading up to the conference.
The strategic communication workshop, holding at Stratton 38 Hotel in Asokoro District of Abuja is participatory, inclusive, and solution-focused, with simultaneous interpretation in English and French. It is also combining various approaches, including Plenary presentations to share institutional perspectives, challenges, and proposed solutions.
Another approach is interactive group work – collaboratively mapping communication gaps, channels, and stakeholder roles.
On the first day of the workshop, there were group breakout sessions – to develop key messages, media strategies, and to develop a practical and time-bound media engagement plan (focusing on communication across ECOWAS member states, especially the host country).
Among the expected outcomes is the conduct of a joint analysis of communication gaps and bottlenecks and a clear definition of a communication structure, including focal persons and reporting lines.
The organisers also expect the development of harmonised communication strategy; creation and sharing of a communication activity calendar and roadmap for the LIC and; of collaboration and trust among communications leads.
Among the participants were CSP communication team made up of Nigeria Health Watch, Corona Media Service and Bloomberg Public Health, as well as the WAHO communication team, WAHO technical staff and, ECOWAS Commission Communication Directorate.
Also participating are communication representatives of country taskforces to combat Lassa Fever: Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Togo, the host country of the Lassa fever conference (Côte d’Ivoire), WAHO support staff and various Partners.
Commenting, Mr. Harold Thomas, a participant, described the two-day workshop as very timely, given the negative impact of Lassa fever in West Africa, including Sierra Leone where it is endemic in one particular district.
Another participant, Donni Dickson, said the workshop was very significant because of the need for a unified communication strategy that cuts across ECOWAS member state.
While wishing that the workshop had come earlier than now in view of the role communication would have played mitigating the effect of Lassa Fever in West Africa, she however added, “I wouldn’t say it is late.”