Health journalists and development partners in Lagos are set for a stronger campaign and to hold authorities accountable for maternal and child deaths in the state.
The Lagos State Unified Media Health Coalition said it is no longer business as usual as it will monitor closely hospitals, healthcare services, and government health programmes affecting women and children.
The group explained that many maternal deaths are not caused only by medical problems, but also by inadequate communication, poor healthcare services and darth of awareness about services provided.
Speaking at a meeting in Lagos, the Director of Programmes, Mr. Solomon Dogo, said the coalition wants to ensure that health reporting changes the narrative.
“Already the government is doing so much in terms of providing access to health facilities for Lagosians. But if people do not know where to access the services, that becomes a problem,” he said.
Dogo said poor coordination in health reporting had created gaps in public awareness about antenatal care, immunisation, and primary healthcare services.
According to him, the team will focus on tracking government health interventions, monitor how health policies are implemented in Lagos communities.
The Chairperson of the Coalition and President of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Vivian Ihechu, said many residents are still unaware of government healthcare programmes such as the Lagos State health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko.
“Some parents do not even know these services exist. That is where the media becomes critical. We must amplify the information and also hold government accountable to promises made in the health sector,” she stated.
Ihechu expressed dismay about emergency maternal care, especially the shortage of blood in public hospitals and constant reliance on commercial blood donors, describing it as dangerous.
The coalition said its work will cover maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, adolescent health, primary healthcare, and transparency in health funding.
Also speaking, the President of the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition, Mr. Sola Ogundipe, called for more investment in health journalism.
He said many journalists face challenges of poor funding, limited access to health data, and misinformation spread on social media.
Ogundipe urged stakeholders to support health reporters with training, better access to information, and modern reporting tools.
Mrs. Chioma Umeha, Chairman of the Lagos State Media Advocacy Working Group, said the coalition was created to unite media organisations working on reproductive and maternal health issues.
She says, “We are here because of the need for synergy among all actors, to ensure improved reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health in Lagos State”.
According to her, the coalition has four organisations to combine their strengths and improve healthcare advocacy in the state.
She added that her organisation has worked for years to improve family planning awareness and reproductive healthcare in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
“We have been working in the area of improving reproductive health in Lagos State and in the country, and also to improve uptake of family planning,” she said.
Also, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, Mrs. Kikelomo Oduyebo, wants more immunization issues reported in the media.
“Misinformation and poor awareness have left many children unvaccinated, especially in crowded communities like Alimosho and Ikorodu”. She says
The meeting was attended by representatives of health organisations and development partners, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Gates Foundation, EngenderHealth, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and its agencies.
Reporting by Julie Ekong