By Sani Idris-Abdulrahman

The International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), has trained  journalist on health reporting in Kaduna State.

This, is a decisive step towards bridging the gap between healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public.

The three-day training, supported by a consortium of partners including EngenderHealth, Centre for Communication Social Impact (CCSI), and LISDEL, brought together journalists and broadcasters from various media organisations in the state to build capacity for evidence-based and impactful health reporting.

The training aims to equip media practitioners with the tools and knowledge required to effectively report on health sector initiatives, especially in the areas of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Primary Health Care (PHC), and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) to health financing.

The state’s Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, emphasised the pivotal role of the media in achieving the state’s health development goals.

Ahmed, represented by Dr. Gajere Jonathan, the Director Medical Services at the ministry, recognised the powerful role the media play in shaping public understanding, attitudes, and behaviors toward health.

Citing alarming health indicators, she noted that Nigeria continue to grapple with high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality.

According to her, children under five still die from preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea.

“This are deaths that could be avoided with timely access to healthcare and accurate public information”,she said.

Umma pointed to the re-emergence of diseases such as lassa fever, cholera, and yellow fever, alongside global health threats like COVID-19, which continued to strain the health system.

She added that non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes were becoming more prevalent, often going undiagnosed until complications arise.

“Our response in Kaduna has been to implement wide-ranging reforms to strengthen our health system. These include expanding health insurance coverage, improving our PHC facilities, and enhancing disease surveillance,” she said.

The Commissioner stressed that in spite the policy strides, none of the reforms would succeed without the active involvement of the media.

“You, the media, are not just messengers, you are multipliers. You demystify complex policies, amplify public health messages, and help hold leadership accountable,”she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Gates Foundation, Dr. Anthony Shamang, a health systems consultant, described the training as a critical component in Kaduna’s journey toward more inclusive and responsive healthcare delivery.

“The Gates Foundation has worked in Kaduna State for over a decade. We began with support for routine immunisation and have since expanded to broader health system strengthening,” he said.

Shamang clarified that the Gates Foundation operates as a funding partner, supporting governments and implementing organisations like EngenderHealth, ISMPH, and others to execute projects in the health sector.

He recounted a scenario in which advocacy for the release of ₦500,000 for a health intervention failed because the decision-makers could not understand the technical justification behind it.

“That is where the media comes in. you have the power to translate health challenges and needs into compelling stories that resonate with the public and policymakers alike,” he said.

Shamang praised ISMPH for pioneering a media-led approach to public health engagement and expressed hope that more journalists would take up the mantle of advocacy journalism to ensure public accountability and resource mobilizlsation.

The Executive Director of ISMPH, Moji Makanjuola,
said at the organisation,
they see the media as strategic and not just important.

Moji, Represented by the ISMPH Program Director, Solomon Dogo, said the media are partners in development, and their role in public health goes beyond dissemination, but helping to drive behavior change.

Makanjuola explained that the training was part of a larger initiative being implemented in Kaduna, Kano, and Niger states, designed to improve media literacy around health topics and build the capacity of reporters to drive community-level change through informed reporting.

She acknowledged the support of the Kaduna State Government and the funding commitment of the Gates Foundation.

She further recognised the leadership and technical contributions of partners EngenderHealth (the lead implementing organisation), CCSI, and LISDEL.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the training, featured technical sessions on Nigeria’s health system structure, SWAp principles, health financing mechanisms, and effective storytelling techniques for health issues.

Participants were also exposed to the use of data in health reporting, ethical challenges in medical journalism, and how to hold leaders accountable using evidence-based narratives.

The workshop is expected to improve the quality and consistency of health coverage across radio, television, print, and digital media platforms in Kaduna State.(NAN)