Media coalition moves against maternal deaths

By Doris Obinna

Health journalists in Lagos have launched a renewed accountability campaign aimed at tackling the information gaps, policy failures and service delivery challenges contributing to maternal and child deaths across the state.

The Lagos State Unified Media Health Coalition, operating under the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), announced that it would intensify investigative reporting, monitor health interventions and track the implementation of maternal and child health programmes to improve healthcare outcomes.

Speaking at a post-alignment meeting in Lagos, Director of Programmes, ISMPH, Mr Solomon Dogo, said many residents remain unaware of available health services despite government investments in healthcare. He noted that poor public awareness of antenatal care, immunisation and primary healthcare services continues to undermine access to essential care.

Dogo said the coalition was moving beyond routine advocacy and sensitisation campaigns to a more coordinated approach that would focus on measurable outcomes, including improved public awareness, policy responsiveness and service delivery. He stressed that better communication of available health services was critical to reducing preventable maternal and child deaths.

President, Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), Mrs Vivian Ihechu, said the media must play a greater role in informing the public about health initiatives such as the Lagos State health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, while also holding government accountable for its commitments to the sector.

Ihechu expressed concern over persistent challenges in emergency maternal care, particularly issues relating to blood availability in public hospitals and reliance on commercial blood donors. She said addressing such gaps would require stronger collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers and the media.

The coalition said its activities would focus on maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, adolescent health, primary healthcare delivery and transparency in health financing.

President, Lagos State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition, Mr Sola Ogundipe, called for increased investment in health journalism, citing challenges such as limited funding, restricted access to data and the growing spread of misinformation.

Also, Chairman of the Society for Media Advocacy on Health, Nigeria (SOMAH), Mrs Chioma Umeha, said the coalition was formed to strengthen collaboration among media organisations working to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health outcomes in Lagos and across the country.

Lagos State Coordinator of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, Mrs Kikelomo Oduyebo, warned that low immunisation coverage and misinformation remain major drivers of preventable child deaths, particularly in densely populated communities.

The meeting was attended by representatives of development partners, health organisations and government agencies, including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Gates Foundation and EngenderHealth.