* As UNICEF Trains 50 Journalists On Maternal And New Born Health Reporting
By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
About 50 journalists in Bauchi State have been trained on maternal and newborn health reporting in a one-day capacity-building programme organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with UNICEF.
The training, facilitated by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, is aimed at improving media coverage of maternal and child health issues and reducing maternal mortality in the state.
Speaking at the event, NUJ Bauchi State Chairman, Comrade Umar Sa’idu, commended UNICEF for supporting the initiative, stressing the need for continuous training for journalists.
He said the programme would enhance members’ capacity to report accurately on health issues affecting women and children. Sa’idu disclosed that the training would culminate in the establishment of a seven-month technical committee to guide journalists in producing in-depth reports on maternal and newborn health.
He added that the committee would ensure that participants apply the knowledge gained to improve reportage and contribute to reducing maternal deaths.
In their separate paper presentation, the UNICEF health specialists disclosed that the rate of teenage pregnancy rate in the State is high with 1 out 4 underaged girls are getting pregnancy at their early age.
Corroborating, UNICEF behaviourial change specialists, George Eke, emphasized the need for intensifying on awareness creation from the journalists with a view to achieve behaviourial change and attitudinal change from parents especially going to healthcare facilities for delivery.
Nigerian NewsLeader Newspaper Correspondent reports that the one-day training gathered over 50 journalists from both print, broadcast and online media outlets. NNL.
