FarmingFarmersFarms (FFF), the specialised online newspaper focused on agriculture and the environment, is organising the Medical Literacy and Outreach Programme (MLOP), titled “Save a Life on the Farm” designed for farmers, farm workers, families, agricultural reporters, community leaders, researchers, students, agricultural extension, health and community volunteers in the Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State.
According to the MLOP Programme Coordinator, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Adebayo, the theme of the event is “Don’t Chase the Snake: Save the Life!”, holding at Nawair-Ud-Deen Grammar School (Senior), Obantoko, Abeokuta, Ogun State on October 27, 2026, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
Giving reasons for the initiative, Adebayo said that statistics have shown that snakebite envenoming or envenomation has a significant public health impact due to its substantial morbidity and mortality rates, and that in sub-Saharan Africa, there are over one million bites and 25,000 deaths annually with over 10 per 100,000 rural Africans dying from snakebites.
In Nigeria alone, around 43,049 snakebite incidents occur yearly, with 5% fatal and 6% leading to amputations, making snakebite envenoming to remain a health threat for rural farmers, worsened by financial, transportation and socio-cultural barriers, saying the implication of this development is that farmers, particularly in rural areas, are significantly affected by snakebites, often during cropping or herding activities while delays in seeking medical care, after snakebites, are common in rural areas, resulting in severe complications, disability and death, she added.
Hosting of MLOP coincides with the Global Media and Information Literacy (GMIL) Week, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s annual platform for advancing the knowledge, skills, and values needed to access, assess, create, and share information responsibly. This year’s theme “We all Play a Part: Media and Information Literacy for the People”, has been described as a timely call to action, making information integrity a shared responsibility among public institutions, educators, community leaders, and farmers.
The International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), Nigeria is coordinating activities in collaboration with the UNESCO Abuja Office, the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (Nairobi), the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, civil society, academic institutions, media organisations, and relevant private-sector partners.
Participating countries would have visibility and a shared record of lessons and actions across the continent, while the implementation strategy would adopt a multi-stakeholder approach. IMILI is providing technical assistance for FFF to organise MLOP.
FarmingFarmersFarms promotes discourse on sustainable farming practices, precision agriculture, environmental protection, and food security through reports, features, editorials, interviews, and expert analyses. A recipient of notable support through grants such as the Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (NAMIP), implemented by the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), affiliated to the MacArthur Foundation, United States of America, FFF has advanced on the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) with specific reference to goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 15 (Life on Land), to increase agricultural productivity, improve the resilience of food systems, and ensure access to nutritious and sustainable food for all.
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