In a bid to improve media coverage of health issues, health writers’ associations in Lagos State have formed a coalition to promote more coordinated activities and achieve better health outcomes.
The coalition focuses on areas including maternal and child health, primary healthcare, immunization, nutrition, and health financing.
The four associations that agreed to work together and signed the agreement in Lagos are:
- Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), led by its President, Vivian Ihechu;
- Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN), led by its President, Yinka Shokunbi;
- Knowledge Management & Communication Sub-committee (KMCS) of the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism (LASAM), led by its Chairman, Mr. Olusola Ogundipe;
- Society for Media Advocacy on Health, Nigeria, led by Mrs. Chioma Umeha.
Members of the coalition, known as the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition, agreed that through purposeful collective action and a unified voice, they would make impactful contributions to the health sector.
The International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) coordinated the signing of the pact, which united the associations after over four hours of intensive deliberations.
The signing was formally witnessed by representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, the Lagos State Health Insurance Management Agency (LASHMA), and ISMPH.
A copy of the agreement reads in part: “We, the undersigned authorized representatives of recognized health media networks and associations in Lagos State, acknowledge the need for stronger coordination, strategic collaboration, and unified advocacy in advancing public health priorities, including Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Primary Health Care, health financing, reproductive health, and other critical health development issues.
“Recognizing the influence and responsibility of the media in shaping public discourse and policy accountability in Lagos State, we hereby voluntarily agree to operate under a coordinated platform known as the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition.”
The leadership of the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition, led by HEWAN President Vivian Ihechu, noted that the nation’s health sector—with the myriad problems confronting it—needs the powerful actions and voices of coalitions to drive a paradigm shift toward more equitable healthcare.
They unanimously agreed to pool their abilities and expertise to improve health outcomes in Lagos State and vowed to work together to advance the health sector.
Facilitating the discussion, the Director of Programmes at ISMPH, Solomon Dogo, said the coalition would present a unified media voice in engagements with government and development partners.
He said: “Recognizing the influence and responsibility of the media in shaping public discourse, we have voluntarily agreed to operate under a coordinated platform.
“By aligning their messaging, the partners aim to bridge the gap between policy and the public, ensuring that healthcare promises translate into tangible benefits for every Lagosian.”
Good health reporting plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s media landscape by driving accountability, raising public awareness, and influencing health policies.
Health reporting focuses on raising awareness about community well-being, including nutrition, disease prevention, maternal and child health, immunization, and public health.
Through advocacy for better service delivery—by highlighting issues such as medical negligence, poor infrastructure, and the need for health insurance—health reporters empower citizens to demand improved healthcare services.
