By Lizzy Carr
Some selected Health reporters in Bauchi State are undergoing a 3 days orientation on Maternal and Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Review (MPCDSR).
Organized by USAID-Integrated Health Program (IHP)with the objectives to increase knowledge of media of practitioners on maternal and child health, and introducing participants to quality of care.
Also, the session will enable the media to understand cases of deaths and the role and contribution of media to reduce the burden in the state and country at large among others.
The USAID-IHP Technical Director, Dr. Ibrahim Kabo said that Journalists contribute immensely to health development using the solution and developmental journalism as an instrument for behavioral change.
Kabo said that orienting journalists on issues around mothers’ and child health would improve on methodology to be employed to deliver on the social responsibility of investigating and reporting MPCDRS issues as it unfolds From community to health facilities.
“Reporting MPCDRS is sensitive and is for the general well-being of state and Country by extension to improve what should be provided to prevent occurrence maternal and child deaths,” he said.
Secretary Bauchi State MPCDRS steering committee Zawaira Baba said with the support of implementing partners, 17 secondary health facilities reported the aforementioned subject matter in 2022.
However, to scale up reports of MPCDSR to expedite action, refresher training is ongoing in 25 secondary health facilities and 13 Comprehensive Primary Health Care Centers.
Baba mentioned that part of the numerous challenges facing issues was the lack of a budget line by the Bauchi State Government on MPCDRS.
