The Director, of f Advocacy and Social Mobilisation, Mr Dahiru Kamaru, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), has urged journalists to redouble efforts toward Educating the public about the benefits of Family planning (FP).
Kamaru said no fewer than 587 healthcare centers provide FP services in Sokoto State, stressing the need for increased awareness, understanding of the process, and accessibility among citizens.
He made the call on Friday during a three-day training organized by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) and Devcoms for media personnel in Sokoto.
It’s a follow-up to initial training across 13 States in the country and the initiative being implemented by the Development Communications (DevComs) Network is supported by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria, managed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP).
The training program on media advocacy and community engagement, the initiative will equip journalists, reporters, and media professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively communicate about family planning and childbirth spacing.
DevComs Programme Director, Akin Jimoh, “TCI Nigeria recognizes the pivotal role of the media in shaping public opinion and fostering awareness of critical health issues.
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He also charged media stakeholders to dedicate more efforts through their routine and special programs to educating citizens on the importance of FP, as well as the availability of supplements and services in healthcare centers.
The Initiative involved a series of activities including desk reviews, strategic engagements with government agencies, training sessions, field trips, media chats, and roundtable meetings with policymakers.
The group was engaged in advocacy, creating demand generation, service, delivery, research, monitoring, and evaluation of FP services.
Kilgori, who urged media practitioners to be FP champions, added that the three-day training would strengthen the capacity of journalists for increased synergy and engagement.
He explained that “some myths and misconceptions about FP discourage women from accepting or accessing services in many communities, and these have also denied the state from getting to the achievable level.”
He emphasised that stakeholders therefore needed to reduce the negative effects of myths and misconceptions among women, as well as reduce the percentage of infants and maternal mortality.
The Lead Facilitator, Mr Abdallah Elkurebe, urged journalists to complement the government’s efforts toward ensuring safe FP activities.
He further educated participants on sources of generating FP stories, targeted areas to highlight activities, the need for community engagement, and human-angle stories.
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He advised women of reproductive age to use reputable health facilities for family planning services.
“The project will be closely monitored to track progress and effectiveness, ensuring sustainable impact beyond its duration. A clear sustainability plan, including the formation of media groups on Family Planning/childbirth spacing in each state, will be implemented to ensure the continuity of efforts.
