Saturday, 21 May 2016

DECLARATION OF ACTION AFTER 2-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 CHIMCHERRY HOTEL, KADUNA STATE ON 11TH AND 12TH MAY, 2016




Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) held 2-Day Mentorship Training for Media Champions in Child and Family Health. The training held at Chimcherry Hotel, Kaduna state on 11th and 12th May, 2016 was attended by about 15 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 across PACFaH focal states, 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 and sustainable funding for routine immunisation remains paramount to ensure appropriate vaccination, reduce rising deaths of children under-5 and avert resurgence of polio virus; effective implementation of National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (NSPAN) will prevent high burden of malnutrition; adoption and effective implementation of: National Blue Print on Family Planning will avert preventable maternal deaths; and recommended guidelines (such as Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablets and Zinc/Lo-ORS) as first line treatment of pneumonia and diarrhoea by the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities (UNCoLSC) will prevent the death of children under-5.
Also recognise that dwindling budgetary allocation, poor political commitment and awareness, delay in the release of fund, over-dependent on donor funding are impending challenges confronting sustainable routine immunisation, adequate nutrition status, contraceptive prevalent rate, and treatment of childhood killer diseases at all levels.
Express concern over lack of political will to fulfil various commitments to child and family health; existing socio-cultural challenges backpedalling appropriate practices on nutrition, family planning, under-reported cases of pneumonia and diarrhoea as the major killers of children under-5.
Also express concern over political reluctant to collaborate with the media; and inadequate media-political awareness on child and family health related issues.
Note that in Nigeria, malnutrition contributes to 1 out of every 2 child death, 1 out of 8 under-5 children die before 5th year from childhood killer diseases, 1 in every 13 women die from pregnancy related complications; and exclusive breastfeeding practices would help to mitigate high malnutrition burden and childhood killer diseases at all levels.
Also note exploring alternative sources of fund through revenue expansion from commercialised agricultural practices would help to bridge funding gaps in child and family health at all levels.
Further note that evidence-based and investigative journalism would inform accurate reportage, effective data analysis and interpretation for adequate public awareness, and political commitment towards child and family health in Nigeria.
Affirm to the creation of budget line for the procurement and administration of life-saving commodities, operationalization of the NSPAN and National Family Planning Blue Print.
Commit to intensify public awareness, raise political consciousness towards adequate and sustainable funding for routine immunisation, nutrition, family planning and treatment of childhood killer diseases at all levels through evidence-based journalism and appropriate agenda setting for relevant stakeholders.
Also commit to educate the women on rights to appropriate child spacing methodology, project the socio-economic benefits of family planning, and demand the adoption and full implementation of National Blue Print on Family Planning through comparative data analysis, persistent and well-informed advocacy to the relevant stakeholders at all levels.
Will prioritise public education and enlightenment, especially for men to restore women’s rights and dignity on health and family planning through synergy with civil society groups to create a formidable force demanding accountability in child family health
Shall effectively engage, track and monitor budgetary processes to advocate and demand accountability on adequate funding for child and family health through budget analysis, information management, investigative journalism, verifiable facts and figures, factual and human-angle reportage.
Will support the on-going lobby-free advocacy by PACFaH in the country through factual reporting and constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders
Signed:
Haruna Gimba Yaya
Daily Trust Newspapers, Kano

Eze Nkechi
Newspeg Magazine, Abuja

Suzan Edeh
Vanguard Newspapers, Bauchi state

Salihi Abubakar
Leadership Newspapers, Kano state
Ijeoma Ukazu
Abuja Enquirer Newspapers, Lagos

Falalu Suleiman
Radio Niger

Umar Muhammed
Punch Newspapers, Nasarawa state

Ahmed Kaigama
Peoples Daily Newspapers, Bauchi

Mary Jalingo
Newsline Newspapers, Niger state

Gabriel Oluwale
Vanguard Newspapers, Lagos state

Salihu Mohammed Alkali
FRCN, Nasarawa state

Abdullahi Muhammed
Newsdairy online, Abuja








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