The Kano State-led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM) has convened a sensitization meeting with media managers in Kano.
The gathering, held at the Express Radio conference hall, brought together editors and managers from various print, radio, and television outlets.
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The sensitization was aimed at equipping the managers with the right knowledge and tools, to utilize the media as an advocacy platform to consistently report on Child Birth Spacing (CBS) and Maternal and Child Health (MNCH).
The ultimate goal is to drive a change in Kano’s poor statistics concerning maternal and child mortality and to improve the uptake of family planning services.
In her remarks, KanSLAM Co-chair Pharm. Maimuna Yakubu emphasized that the public visibility of CBS and MNCH in Kano needs to be strengthened through accurate reporting.
“The media can make or mar any society. We are here to sensitize them so the right information can be appropriately passed across,” Pharm Yakubu said.
She further urged media organizations to actively investigate and highlight areas requiring intervention, thereby prompting state authorities to take action to reduce maternal and child mortality and improve the uptake of Child Birth Spacing services.
Pharm. Yakubu also called on the residents of Kano to speak out when they encounter poor service delivery at their local Primary Healthcare Centers.
According to her, this is essential for activating the right actions and bringing about effective solutions towards CBS and MNCH in Kano.
Dr. Musa Bello representing, the KanSLAM Advocacy Sub-committee highlighted the critical role of reproductive health, family planning, and maternal and child health services as fundamental measures of community well-being.
He reported that Kano State faces profound challenges in delivering these essential services, despite its vast population which includes nearly three million women of reproductive age. The state contends with a high fertility rate and a deeply concerning maternal mortality ratio.
While there is some use of modern contraception, a significant portion of women still lack access to the family planning services they need.
Dr. Bello identified several factors contributing to maternal deaths, including delays in emergency care for referred patients, challenges with surgical delivery rates, and critical gaps in the availability of life-saving drugs, functional blood banks, and essential medical equipment.
According to him, many primary health centers operate without basic infrastructure such as reliable electricity and water, while also suffering from low staff motivation and infrequent supervision.
A lack of data-driven planning and the underuse of community structures like traditional rulers and local committees hinder progress.
To address this urgent situation, Dr. Bello called on the media to amplify these issues and advocate for decisive action so that these challenges can be effectively overcome.
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At the end of the meeting, media managers resolved to heighten reportage on CBS and MNCH in the state as a solution to ameliorating the situation.