Stakeholders Tasks Journalists on improved reportage on Maternal, Neonatal and Child health space in Nigeria
By Mele Peter
Stakeholders at a 3 day capacity building workshop on Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health for journalists in Gombe State have stressed the need for knowledge upscale on women and Children health related issues.
The capacity workshop with the theme, “Together for Family Health in Nigeria”, put together by Rotary International focuses on the improvement of participants understanding of gloomy global rate of child birth related challenges especially in Nigeria and the state in particular.
The is equally targeted at leveraging on the various media platforms to the state with sound, discernible and actionable messages that will ginger commitment to reducing Maternal,Neonatal,Child deaths and Morbidity among critical stakeholders that includes Women, Healthcare providers, Community, Religious leaders and the family.
During the 3 day capacity building, the participating Journalists were drilled in the areas of critical elements of Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health situation in Nigeria, Key health metrics and statistics usage as well as the place of Cultural and religious context of Reproductive Health and Family Planning.
The Facilitators whom are carefully selected to include former Director of the National Orientation Agency NOA, Mr Ado Solomon, a Season Journalist with the BBC and Director General, Gombe Media Corporation Mallam Ibrahim Isa among others also dealt with issues of myths, misconceptions and their impact on lives in Nigeria.
The participants were enjoined to always ensure respect for privacy and cultural conversations especially in sensitive topics like sexual reproductive health and family planning.
Participants were also encouraged on the need to adapt to Multimedia story telling by integrating video, audio and graphics while reporting health issues for maximum impact on the audience.
In his address the at beginning of the workshop, the representative of Rotary International Mr Ndus Dantata Mohammed explained the wisdom behind the organization’s wisdom in packaging the training which he said borders on its commitment to humanity.
The State Commissioner of health, Dr Habu Dahiru and the Executive Secretary, Gombe State Primary Health Development Agency PHCDA, appreciated Rotary International for choosing to work with Journalists in its quest to mitigate challenges associated with preventable complications in pregnancy, child birth and safe delivery.
