On February 9th E4A - MamaYe organised and trained selected health correspondents across Kano and Jigawa states, as well as Abuja. The training, which involved sixteen health journalists from print, broadcast and online news platforms, was organised to empower the journalists to use evidence to create balanced reports on maternal and newborn survival.Our CampaignMamaYe-E4A is a public campaign created to change the expectations of most Nigerians away from fatalism in relation to pregnancy and childbirth - and towards hope and survival.The campaign aims to improve maternal and newborn survival by sharing evidence, undertaking advocacy and holding those responsible for maternal survival to account. MamaYe-E4A will also showcase solutions and success - and promote individuals and organisations that have worked selflessly to save the lives of mothers and babies in Nigeria.“If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own.” Wes ScoopBecause it is very depressing to know that 109 women die everyday from pregnancy- related causes, MamaYe Nigeria decided to provide news and evidence of solutions and success. To show that every pregnant woman and their newborn can survive childbirth. The Media TrainingThe training sought to improve balanced coverage of success in maternal and newborn health and survival in the media; and to equip journalists with the evidence and information they need as background for their reports. We also trained them in the use of social media to improve maternal and newborn survival advocacy and accountability.Reacting to the training, Bashir Umar, Director of Information (picture above), Jigawa State Ministry of Information said, “By the end of this year (2013), we will have a state television station and we can design TV and radio programmes to help propagate information on maternal and newborn health.”Judd-Leonard Okafor, a health correspondent with Daily Trust said, “If my writing can touch one leader to make a change and stop one woman from dying, the mother and child saved would have a better story.”Another health reporter from the Nigerian Television Authority, Auwal Salisu Lautai (below) said, “This training has given me extra energy to go out there and be a maternal and newborn champion; to do more on the coverage.”OutcomeAt the end of the training, participants developed an action plan that will increase balanced news of Nigerians’ quest to end maternal and newborn deaths. They also decided to form a group called Champions for Maternal and Newborn Health (C4MNH).
On February 9th E4A - MamaYe organised and trained selected health correspondents across Kano and Jigawa states, as well as Abuja. The training, which involved sixteen health journalists from print, broadcast and online news platforms, was organised to empower the journalists to use evidence to create balanced reports on maternal and newborn survival.Our CampaignMamaYe-E4A is a public campaign created to change the expectations of most Nigerians away from fatalism in relation to pregnancy and childbirth - and towards hope and survival.The campaign aims to improve maternal and newborn survival by sharing evidence, undertaking advocacy and holding those responsible for maternal survival to account. MamaYe-E4A will also showcase solutions and success - and promote individuals and organisations that have worked selflessly to save the lives of mothers and babies in Nigeria.“If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own.” Wes ScoopBecause it is very depressing to know that 109 women die everyday from pregnancy- related causes, MamaYe Nigeria decided to provide news and evidence of solutions and success. To show that every pregnant woman and their newborn can survive childbirth. The Media TrainingThe training sought to improve balanced coverage of success in maternal and newborn health and survival in the media; and to equip journalists with the evidence and information they need as background for their reports. We also trained them in the use of social media to improve maternal and newborn survival advocacy and accountability.Reacting to the training, Bashir Umar, Director of Information (picture above), Jigawa State Ministry of Information said, “By the end of this year (2013), we will have a state television station and we can design TV and radio programmes to help propagate information on maternal and newborn health.”Judd-Leonard Okafor, a health correspondent with Daily Trust said, “If my writing can touch one leader to make a change and stop one woman from dying, the mother and child saved would have a better story.”Another health reporter from the Nigerian Television Authority, Auwal Salisu Lautai (below) said, “This training has given me extra energy to go out there and be a maternal and newborn champion; to do more on the coverage.”OutcomeAt the end of the training, participants developed an action plan that will increase balanced news of Nigerians’ quest to end maternal and newborn deaths. They also decided to form a group called Champions for Maternal and Newborn Health (C4MNH).