Health journalists and media advocacy groups have intensified efforts to address maternal and child deaths with the framing of a unified media coalition work plan, aimed at strengthening health reporting, public awareness, and accountability in the state health care in Lagos.
The coalition, known as the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition, was established during a strategic meeting of different groups of journalists, health advocates, development partners, and officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health
Participants at the meeting said the initiative would provide a stronger and coordinated platform for media organisations to track government health programmes, promote accurate health information, and advocate improved healthcare delivery for women and children across the state.
Speaking at the meeting, Director of Programmes of the International Society for Media in Public Health, Mr. Solomon Dogo, said the coalition would help bridge communication gaps that often prevent residents from benefiting from available healthcare services.
According to him, maternal deaths and poor health outcomes are not caused by medical challenges alone, but also by inadequate information, weak communication strategies, and limited public awareness about healthcare interventions.
Mr. Dogo noted that although the Lagos State Government had invested significantly in healthcare services and facilities, many residents still lacked information on how and where to access them.
“The government is doing a lot in providing healthcare services, but if people are unaware of these opportunities, then the impact will remain limited. The media must help change that narrative,” he said.
Chairperson of the coalition and President of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Vivian Ihechu, stressed the need for sustained media engagement in the health sector, particularly in creating awareness about programmes such as the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko.
Mrs. Ihechu expressed concern that many families were still unaware of government-supported healthcare services available to them.
“Some parents do not even know these services exist. That is where the media becomes critical. We must amplify information and also hold government accountable to promises made in the health sector,” she stated.
She also raised concerns over emergency maternal care in public hospitals, especially shortages in blood supply and the growing dependence on commercial blood donors, which she described as unsafe and worrisome.
Mrs Ihechu explained that the coalition would focus more on maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, adolescent health, reproductive healthcare, primary healthcare services, and transparency in health financing.
Also speaking, President of the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition, Mr. Sola Ogundipe, called for increased support for health journalism.
Mr. Ogundipe noted that many health reporters operate under difficult conditions, including poor funding, inadequate access to health data, and the challenge of combating misinformation on social media.
He urged stakeholders and development partners to support journalists through regular training, improved access to credible information, and provision of modern reporting tools.
Chairman of the Lagos State Media Advocacy Working Group, Mrs. Chioma Umeha, said the coalition was created to foster synergy among media organisations working in the area of reproductive and maternal health.
According to her, the platform brings together different organisations to harmonise advocacy efforts and improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health outcomes in Lagos State.
“We are here because of the need for synergy among all actors to ensure improved reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health in Lagos State,” she said.
Mrs. Umeha added that her organisation had continued to promote reproductive healthcare and family planning awareness in Lagos and other parts of the country.
The meeting which is a coalition of health Journalists, development partners and stakeholders expressed optimism that if the coalition work plan is successfully actualized, it will go a long way in strengthening health reporting in Lagos State, improve public accountability, support universal health coverage, and contribute to sustainable reforms in the nation’s healthcare sector.