ATBU, CHAMPS trains 30 Journalists on child health, mortality reporting
By Umar Moh’d
About 30 Journalists across different media organizations in Bauchi State have been trained on how to address challenges of Child Health across the state.
The were selected and trained Journalists under the Forum for Mainstreaming Maternal and Child Health (MCH) organized by Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance in collaboration with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University to boost data-to-action reporting in the State.
Highlighting the importance of the training/workshop, Principal Investigator of CHAMPS, Dr Muhammad Bashir Faruk said that the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2023/2024, indicated that Bauchi State has a high rate of neonatal, infant and child mortality.
” For every 1000 live births, 48 die within the first 28 days of life, while 77 die before their first birthday with 125 children dying before they reach five years. These shows that Bauchi State records more deaths than the national rate”. He said
“CHAMPS is out to investigate these deaths and the Journalists are expected to write stories that give policy makers accurate information to take actions that will prevent these mortalities.”
Muhammad Faruk pointed out that considering the power of the Media in shaping the society, the issue of maternal health and mortality can be effectively tackled with sustained and accurate reporting of the issues with data backups.
He disclosed that the objective is to equip Journalists with accurate information on Maternal Child Health (MCH) issues and CHAMPS programmes, enhance media capacity for evidence-based reporting on maternal and child health,foster collaboration between media, health professionals, and policymakers and to advocate for policy changes and increased public awareness on MCH.
He urged the participants to come up with evidence based stories that will enable the formulation of policy based on sound research.
He reiterated that the programme being funded by Emory Global Health Institute is implementing in two Universities in Nigeria, ATBU, Bauchi and University of Calabar in Cross Rivers State.
Lamara Dattijo disclosed that CHAMPS ATBU is been implemented in Bauchi and Ganjuwa Local government areas in selected Health facilities, assuring that more facilities will be included.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Chairman of the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Sa’idu commended management of CHAMPS for thinking it necessary to include Journalists in the implementation of the project.
He stressed that Journalists are important part of the success of any people focused project or programme considering the fact that citizens rely very much on the media for accurate information and direction.
Umar Sa’idu assured CHAMPS that after the training/workshop, Journalists even beyond those who participated will propagate the dangers of child Health challenges.
