By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), a Kaduna-based non-governmental organization, has trained 40 journalists across the three senatorial zones of Kaduna State on the importance of maternal health and child birth spacing. The training aims to strengthen media advocacy and improve the wellbeing of women and children in the state.The one-day media roundtable, held at the IMC office in Kaduna, was organized under the Faith and Cultural Champion (FCC) Project. The session brought together journalists to deepen their understanding of maternal health issues and the critical role of child spacing in reducing maternal and infant mortality.
FCC Project Team Lead, Daniel Ameh, emphasized the health benefits of child spacing, noting that it supports maternal wellbeing, enhances child survival, and contributes to healthier communities.He explained that the project seeks to reduce high rates of maternal and child health complications through increased awareness and access to accurate information.“We invited 40 journalists but saw more than that number in attendance, which shows the media’s strong interest in helping disseminate these important messages,” Ameh said.
Also speaking, Imam Maroof Kolawole of NASFAT Kaduna State Centre clarified misconceptions around family planning in Islam. He stated that while family planning is often misunderstood, child spacing is permissible when agreed upon by both husband and wife.Kolawole stressed that proper information is key to addressing cultural and religious barriers that prevent women from accessing quality maternal healthcare.
Co-Executive Director of IMC, Samson Aura, explained that the project leverages media engagement to raise awareness on child health and responsible child spacing.He added that when communities are well-informed, men are more likely to support their wives during pregnancy and childbirth, thereby reducing complications.The FCC project is currently being implemented in Kaduna and Kano States, with IMC collaborating with implementing partners to conduct sensitization programs through workshops and town hall meetings.
IMC called on adolescents, married women, and men to prioritize maternal health and embrace informed child spacing practices, describing them as essential for the wellbeing of families and communities.
