By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Co-chairman of the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism Initiative (KADMAM), Mr. Garba Mohammed, has declared that no child should die at birth, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen advocacy for Family Planning (FP) and Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) in Kaduna State.
Mr. Mohammed made the statement during a media engagement session organized by KADMAM in Kaduna to mobilize media executives to support and amplify advocacy messages on FP and MNCH through the SASA advocacy project, supported by Pathfinder International Nigeria.
He said the initiative aims to raise awareness, promote accountability, and ensure that maternal and child health interventions reach every family in the state.
“Our slogan, ‘No Child Should Die at Birth,’ captures the essence of our mission — to promote better health outcomes for mothers and children through effective family planning and improved healthcare delivery,” Mohammed stated.
The engagement, according to him, was designed to strengthen collaboration between media organizations and advocacy partners to ensure consistent and impactful communication across all platforms.
Among the key objectives of the meeting were:
– Sensitizing media leaders on the critical importance of FP and MNCH in reducing maternal and child mortality.
– Fostering partnerships between the media, civil society, and government agencies to sustain advocacy efforts.
– Developing a media action plan to guide future engagements and commitments toward FP/MNCH promotion in Kaduna State.
Participants, including top media executives and representatives from both government-owned and private outlets, shared personal experiences and challenges related to maternal and child mortality in hospitals across the state.
Their testimonies highlighted the urgent need for stronger government investment in healthcare services and better access to essential maternal and child health commodities.
Earlier in the session, presentations were made on the role of the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), civil society organizations (CSOs), and the media in advancing maternal health and family planning programs in Kaduna.
At the end of the meeting, media executives voluntarily pledged to use their platforms to promote FP and MNCH-related content, increase public awareness, and hold relevant stakeholders accountable for improving health outcomes.
KADMAM also called on the state government to fulfill its counterpart funding obligations by procuring essential FP and MNCH commodities instead of relying solely on donor partners.
The engagement, held on Tuesday at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Conference Hall, Kaduna, was attended by representatives from various media houses, civil society groups, and public health agencies.
