By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
International society of Media in public Health (ISMPH) has organized a Three Day training to Kano state Journalists on how to reduce maternal mortality in the state.
Speaking at the event, the ISMPH program Director Mr. Solomon Dogo said international society of Media in public Health ISMPH is an organization that have been working with Journalists for a very long time basically to build a capacity of Journalists interms of reporting on health issues because Journalism is a strategic tool to primary health information down to the grassroot.
According to Solomon Dogo ISMPH training Journalists to ensure that, the information is pass to the right people and at the right time.
“For these training that have been sponsored by engenda-health Nigeria, ISMPH trained 25 Journalists on how to report effectively in the area of Reproductive maternal, newborn Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Primary Healthcare (PHC), Sector-wide approach (SWAP) and Contributory Healthcare scheme because these are the critical area that only Media that can enlightening people at the grassroot.’ Solomon Dogo added.
“We are focused on these 4 areas because all of them are Link to the maternal mortality especially at the time which Kano state is the highest rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.” ISMPH boss emphasized.
The programme manager commended Kano state government on its policies in reducing the number of material mortality that includes free Contributory Healthcare to pregnant women, Free Antenatal care and Free CS in all its facilities.
Speaking during the training, the Kano state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf reaffirmed the critical role of the media in shaping public discourse and encouraging positive health behaviours through consistent and impactful storytelling.
“We must move from episodic coverage to sustained storytelling that reflects the transformation in our health system. Our media partners are vital in promoting public understanding of policies like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the Contributory Healthcare Scheme,” said Dr. Yusuf.
The second day focused on Media Engagement and Health Storytelling, with special emphasis on ethical health reportage. Facilitators led sessions on the importance of accuracy, confidentiality, sensitivity, and the need to avoid stigmatizing language—especially in coverage related to maternal health, reproductive rights, adolescent care, and vulnerable populations.
Participants were also trained on how to communicate health financing reforms such as SWAp, the BHCPF, which provides free maternal and child health services for enrollees at designated primary healthcare centres, and the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), which ensures access and financial protection for all residents from the resource parson Boniface Kassam a media Consultant ISMPH.
On Day 3, the participants developed health story concepts and received practical guidance on multimedia content creation and digital platforms for amplifying health messages. A dedicated media-health platform will be launch to facilitate sustained collaboration between media houses and the health sector.
Key outcomes from the workshop include:
Development of a compelling health story ideas;
Creation of a media-health communication platform for ongoing coordination;
Agreement on timely features to spotlight RMNCAH, PHC reforms, KSCHMA scheme,and community health financing.
The workshop concluded with a strong call to action from the Ministry of Health, urging participants to uphold ethical standards while using their platforms to drive awareness, accountability, and access to quality healthcare across Kano State.
