Nigeria Health Watch Partners APCOM to Train Journalists In Tackling Misinformation, Myths Causing Maternal & Child Mortality In Nigeria

Yomi Durojaye 

Nigeria Health Watch Partners APCOM to Train Journalists In Tackling Misinformation, Myths Causing Maternal & Child Mortality In Nigeria

A Not-for-profit organization, Nigeria Health Watch has partnered with Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria, APCOM to Train Journalists, Health-Workers, Social Workers and Directors in Health sector In Tackling Misinformation, Myths, Causing Maternal & Child Mortality In Lagos and Nigeria at Large.

The event was organized recently at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Conference and Exhibition Center, (LCCI) by Nigeria Health Watch, (NHW) a not-for-profit health communications and advocacy organisation. 

Nigeria Health Watch Facilitators 

NHW aimed at working to improve health outcomes in Nigeria through evidence-based advocacy, policy engagement, and community-driven initiatives. 

According to the Deputy Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Safiya Shuaibu Isa, "In line with our Global Policy and Advocacy (GPA) Project, we are strengthening heath system accountability and community engagement in key states, including Lagos.

Cross section of Participants and Facilitators from Nigeria Health Watch 

"Our objective is to Strengthen the capacity of community media practitioners to report on primary health care issues, Improve their understanding of accountability frameworks within the heath sector, to explore avenues for ongoing collaboration in public health communication and advocacy and equip members with tools to counter health misinformation, and maternal & Child Mortality.

Addressing the challenges and proffering solutions, Mrs. Safiya highlighted some of the challenges that led to maternal and Child Mortality in recent times which include, refusal of vaccinations by various communities, lack of essential healthcare facilities in some PHC, patronising traditional childbirth Centre amongst others.

Mrs. Shuaibu while Highlighting the Solutions, said that community need a periodic Health Education, that will  provide families and communities with accurate information about pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and child healthcare.

"Community Engagement: Engaging community leaders and trusted figures to promote accurate information and address misconceptions can be effective. 

Strengthening Healthcare Systems: Ensuring access to quality healthcare services, including skilled birth attendants, essential medicines, and vaccinations, is vital. 

Also speaking at the event, Zubaida Ibrahim, Precious Ajayi and Sheriff Gbadamosi amongst Nigeria Health Watch representatives, in a separate presentation they advised Journalists under the umbrella of APCOM, Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria, on Solutions Journalism as a new trend of news reportage.

Zubaida said "Solutions journalism is kind of reporting approach that focuses on the responses to community and social problems, she stated that rather than solely highlighting the problems themselves. It aims to provide in-depth knowledge about how people are tackling issue, this approach seeks to equip readers with information to understand and potentially participate in solutions. 

"It helps focus on responses by investigating and explain how people are trying to solve problems, whether those efforts have been successful, partially successful, or have failed with an evidence-based data, and qualitative results to assess the effectiveness of the responses being explored. 

She also discussed on Insights, limitations  and strength of any possible solutions of a particular issues.

Speaking in appreciation on behalf of APCOM, the President, Mr. Yomi Adejumo thanked and appreciate Nigeria Health Watch for their concern in reducing maternal, Child Mortality in the Country.

Applauding their initiative, Adejumo said NHW with collaboration of other health agencies in Lagos and Nigeria has helped in the business of advocacy and campaign against misinformation and other myths that has endangered mother, child healthcare in the country.

Adejumo assured the NHW of the Association 's unalloyed support in propagating and engaging various communities with their grassroots dissemination of information of health related issues across the state through the network of Association spread across the states.

We're happy with the success of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week - Mrs Egunjobi

AgegePulse Magazine


Wife of the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, Mrs Ramat Egunjobi is elated about the success recorded in the just concluded Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week organised by the council.

Mrs Egunjobi said judging by the evaluation reports received from healthcare workers across the Public Health Centres in Agege, it was proven beyond doubt that Agege mothers are passionate about the well being of their infants and foetus.

"We are happy with the way our mothers took advantage of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week. We had positive reports that they cooperated with our healthcare givers who moved round the communities to administer vaccination on our infant children."

"Also, reports from all our Public Health Centers showed that nursing mothers trooped out enmass to receive medical attention from the health workers.

"I can assure you that the well being of everybody in Agege is on top of many dividends of democracy that the leadership of Agege LGA has in plan. With your support and prayers, it would be a success story in the end." Mrs Egunjobi concluded.

Earlier, while declaring the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week open, the Executive Chairman of Agege LGA, Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi reiterated that one of the cardinal objectives of his administration is to provide qualitative health care delivery services to all constituents in Agege Local Government.

Egunjobi said the MNCH week was designed to provide preventive, promotive and protective health interventions which include Ante-natal care services for pregnant women, provision of insecticidal nets, deworming of children, provision of family planning services and Cancer screening services. Thereby, reducing the burden of diseases, maternal and childhood mortality.

Patronize Govt healthcare facilities, Mrs. Ambode charges expectant mothers

AgegePulse Magazine

 Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has renewed her call on expectant mothers to patronize primary health centres and skilled birth attendants in the State, to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.

She gave the advice today at a town hall meeting on the reduction of maternal and child mortality organized by Lagos State Ministry of Health at Epe Local Government.

Mrs. Ambode blamed prevailing maternal mortality rate on the failure of expectant mothers to access obstetric services provided by the government.

 “Almost every minute, somewhere in a corner of the world, a woman dies as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman that dies, about 20 others survive but suffer from serious diseases, disability or physical damage, caused by complications. Majority of these maternal deaths are avoidable if expectant mothers access quality reproductive health care, including skilled attendance at birth,” she said.

“Non-use of essential obstetric services is a crucial factor that contributes to high maternal mortality. Some women refuse to access care when highly necessary either because of cultural practices or because decision-making is the responsibility of other family members”, she added.

Mrs. Ambode stressed that while the role of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) is acknowledged, it is important they know their limitations and ensure prompt referrals to Primary Health Care Centres.

She appealed to women of child-bearing age and pregnant women to avail themselves of the free services during the Child Health Week, taking place throughout this week, by visiting the nearest Primary Health facility closest to them.

The Governor’s wife, who urged women to pay attention to their nutrition during pregnancy, enlisted the support of families, religious and community groups to win the battle against the menace of infant and maternal mortality.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that it was important for TBAs to register with the State Government, adding that reports indicated that expectant mothers still patronize those TBAs that are not trained to handle unforeseen complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

The Commissioner said that the State Government had done so much in the area of primary health-care, as the Governor was very passionate about the health of the citizenry.

He enjoined everyone to come together at the end of the town hall meeting and resolve to do the right thing and save the lives of mothers during pregnancy and babies after childbirth, stressing that everyone has a role to play in this regard.

Delivering their goodwill messages, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Epe Federal Constituency, Hon. Tasir Raji and Chairman, House Committee on Health in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade, both noted that there was a strong link between the health and survival of a mother and that of her new-born.

Raji said it was imperative for the State Government to explore the possibility of registering the TBAs with a view to integrating them into the healthcare delivery system, as this according to him, would help build capacity to ease the burden in the health sector.

Olulade stressed that concerted efforts must be made to ensure that no woman in Lagos State loses her life during pregnancy or childbirth.

In attendance were top government functionaries, traditional rulers, the health family, Traditional Birth Attendants, and other stakeholders.

J.S Babatunde Flags Off Pediatrics Care Week

In a bid to address the issue of inadequate health care attention for children and pregnant women under his jurisdiction, the Executive Chairman of Orile Agege LCDA, Mr. Johnson Sunday Babatunde has began the second phase of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week.

The initiative which is regarded as first of its kind in the LCDA attracted infants, nursing mothers and pregnant women across the council.

As a clear sign that the well being and survival of the weak vessels is paramount to the Chairman, the initiative is already being twice within four months of his assumption into office.

J.S Babatunde, Vice- Chairman, Mrs Oluwatoyin Akanni-Pedro, Secretary to the LCDA, Mr James  Agboola, Supervisors, several health workers and other dignitaries across the area thronged Odunmbaku Public Health Centre in Orile - Agege LCDA yesterday to declare the one-week-long and all-encompassing pediatrics care exercise open.

It started with demonstration of Hand Washing by Environmental Health Officers to mothers before the Wife of the Executive Chairman, Mrs Mojisola Babatunde administered Vitamin-A on the children. Subsequently, mosquito nets and hygiene packs were given to the women.

Agege Pulse learnt that within the one week duration of this programme, pregnant women, nursing mothers and their babies will get attention in different areas ranging from  Malnutrition Screening, Deworming Exercise, Polio Immunization, IPT for malaria in Pregnancy and Family Planning.

Also,  it was gathered that the exercise will be carried out in all the four (4) Primary Health Centers in Orile - Agege, Lagos State.

Speaking at the flag off, Mr Babatunde urged mothers to give utmost attention to immunizing their children in order to prevent life threatening diseases adding that it's imperative for pregnant mothers to take adequate care of themselves and their unborn babies.