From Habibu Idris Gimba, Damaturu
The Development Communications Network in Collaboration with The Challenge Initiative, recently trained a group of media practitioners and social media influencers on media advocacy for family planning in Yobe State.
In the three-day workshop, journalists were trained in writing stories that will increase public awareness and sensitisation on childbirth spacing meant to reduce maternal deaths in the state.
The Media Consultant of DEVCOMs Mrs Comfort Mukollo, said the workshop was meant to equip journalists, foster media-institutional collaboration, and dispel myths surrounding family planning in the state.
She emphasised the need for journalists to provide information that “will encourage couples to go to facilities to obtain child spacing counselling and services that are reliable, as against relying on rumors and myths.
Dr Philemon Yohanna, The TCI State Programme Manager, described child spacing as an aspect of safe motherhood that significantly reduces maternal death, calling on residents to embrace child spacing for its benefits which include full restoration of health to the mother before the next conception, and healthy strong children.
