By Femi Mustapha
The Chairman of Save the Children, State Media Working Group (MWG) Philip Daniel Yatai has advised Journalists in Kaduna to shifts from reporting Political to human-angle, as well as, developmental stories which have a direct impact on the wellbeing of the citizens.
He stated this during the Biannual
Review meeting of the group held in Zaria on 2nd December 2021.
Mr. Yatai said this will bring out what was hidden, undercover to public fora, saying they are hidden areas journalists needed to report for the general public to know.
Speaking on the Biannual review meeting, he explained that the media partners gathered to share experience, lessons learned, review successes and challenges, and re-strategize for an effective media campaign for children.
On the Media Working Group, Yatai said it is to shape the opinion, behaviors Practices, and attitudes of the Journalists and Media Houses towards Children, related to the Project.
” Boost Visibility and brand of the project, Inspire and mobilize people to accept the project and correct misconceptions in the minds of people. All these might not be possible if the media practitioners are not in the understanding of the project”, he said.
In his remarks, the Advocacy and Communications of Kaduna office of Save the Children, Farouk Abdulkadir Mayama, said, Gate’s Anchor IV Project, Save the Children International, the world’s leading organization for children, is implementing a four-year Gate’s Anchor IV Project, a health and nutrition advocacy project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen the Health system in Kaduna State.
He added that the project was designed to improve Health financing, Accountability, and Policy environment.
“The project is built around health system strengthening with a thrust to deliver results for women, adolescents, and children especially those living in hard-to-reach communities”.
Mayama added that the project will focus on nutrition and Health with Vulnerable Children from 0 to Five years as the target.
Speaking on the achievements, he disclosed that the Anchor IV Project supported Kaduna State to produce the first Annual Health Performance Report in 2020.
“We also supported the Primary Health Care Board in the Orientation of new members of the Board”.
The State Team Lead of Save the Children International, Mr. Tanko Langaya said media has remained one of the strongest advocacy platforms to push the government to respond to citizens’ needs and hold them to account.
The media also play a critical role in mobilizing citizens to engage the health sector through demand creation which in the long run will contribute to health system strengthening in the state.
He, therefore, commended the media for always being dependable partners with the SCI.
