DECLARATION OF ACTION AFTER ONE DAY MENTORSHIP TRAINING FOR MEDIA CHAMPIONS IN CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH ORGANISED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERSHIP FOR ADVOCACY IN CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH (PACFaH) HELD AT NASSARAWA GUEST HOUSE, KANO ON 22ND JANUARY, 2016

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) held One Day Mentorship Training for Media Champions in Child and Family Health. The training held at Nassarawa Guest House, Kano on 22^nd January, 2016 was attended by over 20 media champions working in child and family health. The session aimed to bring reputable media champions advocating for, and demanding accountability in child and family health in Nigeria, under one roof for a training on prioritizing and amplifying child and family health issues—Nutrition, Routine Immunisation, Family Planning and management of childhood killer diseases, in the forefront of the media coverage and reportage. After exhaustive deliberations on various thematic issues, we the participants:

Recognise that adequate budgetary allocation to and information on child and family health should be accorded priority by governments at all levels to secure lives, healthy living and socio-economic development.

Also recognise that inadequate budgetary allocation to health, existing socio-cultural challenges, endemic corruption have resulted in poor access to life-saving commodities by mothers and children as well as other health care services across the country.

Express concern over less priority given to child and family health in the country; and will access accurate, authoritative and reliable sources to inform our advocacy to the relevant stakeholders to promote child and family health at all levels.

Also express worry over lack of political will to encourage child spacing and urge the government to support dissemination of accurate, reliable and consistent  information on child spacing for the good health of the mother.

Note that media has essential role in advocating to the governments for sustainable routine immunization; effective implementation of National Strategic Plan on Nutrition (NSPAN) at all levels; creation of budget line for the management of childhood killer diseases, and adequate budgetary allocation to child spacing commodities in the country.

Also note that the main indication for malnutrition in the country is stunting which features in poor physical development and mental retardation in children, and resultant socio-economic challenges.

Further note that accurate, objective and transparent reportage helps in building confidence and maintaining healthy relationship with relevant stakeholders.

Affirm that adequate knowledge of child and family health issues remains essential to effectively engage governments to provide for, and individuals to access adequate child and family health care services across the country.

Commit to advocate to the government at all levels and community to secure their support and confidence to deal with challenges facing child and family health, through evidence based and lobby-free advocacy, and investigative journalism.

Also commit to seek adequate knowledge, avoid technical jargons impeding readers/listeners’ interest, provide focus and strategic media coverage and reportage on child and family health to secure governments’ commitment and individual awareness at all levels.

Will give keen interest, great priority and focused attention to objective, qualitative and strategic coverage and reportage in child and family health through our respective outfits.

Shall effectively advocate to the governments for judicious utilization of the nation’s resources and adoption of innovative mechanisms for fund mobilization for adequate child and family health.

Will support the ongoing lobby-free advocacy by Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) in the country.

Signed:

1. Rashidat M. Olagunju
   NTA, Headquarters
2. Habibah Basanya
   TVC, Lagos
3. Marcus Fatunmole
   National Mirror Newspaper, Lagos
4. Karls Tsokar
   Guardian Newspaper, Abuja
5. Judd-Leonard Okafor
   Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja
6. Stellamaries Amuwa
   PRNigeria
7. Grace Namiji
   Federal Radio Corporation, Abuja
8. Salisu Ibrahim
   Federal Radio Corporation, Kaduna
9. Maimunah Abdulrahman
   Kaduna State Media Corporation
10. Mohammed Ibrahim
    Federal Radio Corporation, Bauchi
11. Bulak Afsa
    NTA, Bauchi
12.  Habiba Dauda
    Niger State Television (NSTV)
13.  Momso Damien Dati
    NTA, Niger State
14.  Abubakar Usman Akwanga
    NTA, Nasarawa State, Lafia
15.  Donatus Nadi
    Leadership Newspaper, Nasarawa State
16.  Ibrahim Musa Giginyu
    Daily Trust Newspaper, Kano State
17.  Kolade Adeyemi
    The Nation Newspaper, Kano State
18.  Olusegun Aribike
    Media Consultant