ABSTRACT
The
research "Radio Programming and Environmental Health Communication: An
Assessment Of The Effectiveness of the Queen Fm94.1 Programme"Oga
Landlord" was carried out to assess the effectiveness of radio programme
in communicating environmental sanitation in Zaria, Kaduna State using
both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data was
specifically gathered through interview, observation, questionnaire and
focus group discussion in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the
Queen FM 94.1 programme"Oga Landlord" in the light of dealing with
environmental sanitation issues. The analysis was based on the Agenda
Setting Theorywhich argues that media attempts to create and transfer
salient issues into the public domain to enable the public to discuss,
deliberate, or debate on these issues to make informed decisions.In view
of this, findings revealed that radio is a powerful medium for health
promotion, educating people on social issues and disseminating
information to a wide variety of audiences. Furthermore, it was
discovered that adequate and effective environmental sanitation
practices are the foundation for health development whereas inadequate
and improper sanitation and poor solid waste management remain two of
the main transmitters of diseases in the world‟s developing
countries.More so, it was revealed that depth and proper treatment is
not given to environmental health issues in the presentation of "Oga
Landlord". Also, audience participation and feedback mechanisms in the
programme are through text messages and phone calls. In view of the
aforementioned findings, it was recommended that other channels of
social media should be inculcated into the programme to enhance audience
participation. In order to sustaineffective radio communication,
broadcasters should be prepared to carry out formative researches on the
audience. Therefore, it is imperative to propose that effective radio
programming should be tailored towards having the desired impact on the
audience which could result in behavioural change