Rotary Foundation trains 20 journalists in Nasarawa on effective reportage of reproductive health
Rotary International, has trained 20 journalists in Nasarawa State on effective reportage of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) related issues.
The three-day training which was organised by Rotary,a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, have journalists drawn from the prints, electronic and online media organisations in the state.
Speaking at the event on Thursday in Akwanga Local Government Area (LGA), Mr Toyosi Asebambo, Program Manager of the organisation said the training was aimed at equipping participants with accurate information to enable them effectively report RMNCH.
He explained that the organisation had been intervening toward addressing issues concerning women and children in the last 100 years in many parts of the world including Nigeria.
He added that the organisation was in the forefront on the fight saw the eradication of polio in Nigeria.
The program manager explained that Rotary’s main focus is to provide medical support to women and children in rural and urban communities in order to reduce maternal and child deaths.
Asebambo took the participants through some harmful practices affecting RMNCH which he said that most of such issues were just myths and misconceptions.
Also, Elvis ChuKwu, Rotary Zonal Coordinator said they are a humanitarian organisation and had been setting in United Nations as observer since 1948 because of their contributions to humanitarian issues.
He added that Nigeria is a priority country in Africa for Rotary International and its has awarded n on and was instrumental to the eradication of polio in Nigeria.
He added that the organisation sets in the United Nations as observer since 1948 because of its humanitarian roles across the globe.
He described as worrisome the rate of maternal, infants and child mortality in the country and called on stakeholders including the press to support the efforts of the organisation and the government in tackling it
He said that the under five mortality rate in Nigeria is 132 per 1000 life birth, infants seven per 1000 life birth while mortality ratio is 512 per 100, 000 life birth.
He therefore called on the participants to write features stories, commentaries, straight news special reports among others on RMNCH with a view of reducing it to minimum.
Also, Dr Gaza Gwamna, Commissioner for Health and Dr Ibrahim Alhassan, Director of Public Health, Nasarawa State Ministry of Health welcomed participants to the training and urged them to take it seriously in order to report RMNCH issues as professional that they are.
The duo added that the ministry would continue to partner with individuals and groups interested in improving the health of the people and commended Rotary for the partnership and training for journalist on proper reportage of RMNCH.
In her presentation, Mrs Ashezi Ezekiel, Rotary RMNCH Midwife said there are some harmful practices such as circumcision of girl-child, refusal to adopt child spacing method on the grounds that it would prevent the woman from given birth when she want to.
Mrs Ezekiel appealed to men to get involve in adopting child spacing method in order to ensure that their children and wives are healthy even after giving birth.
“Get involve in RMNCH in order to dispell some of the myths and misconceptions with a view to curtailing maternal and child mortality rate in the state and country,” she added.
The training featured presentation of papers by resourced persons and well as question and answers from participants among others.