The Challenge Initiative has equipped a significant number of Maiduguri-based journalists with crucial skills aimed at advocating for childbirth spacing on Thursday.
The training, which focused on educating communities through various media platforms, sought to align journalists’ efforts with the broader agenda of promoting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By teaching journalists how to effectively communicate the benefits of childbirth spacing, the initiative aims to foster healthier families and communities while addressing national development goals.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Hauwa Bata, a seasoned health reporter with over a decade of experience, passionately urged participants to use their newfound knowledge to positively influence their audiences.
Bata emphasized that understanding the cultural and religious contexts within their communities would be key to persuading individuals about the importance of childbirth spacing.
She noted that by approaching the topic with respect for local traditions and beliefs, journalists could make a more compelling case for the practice.
Childbirth spacing, as Bata explained, refers to the intentional delaying of pregnancies to allow for adequate time between births.
This practice, she pointed out, helps families better manage their resources and provides an opportunity to improve the health and well being of both mothers and children.
Bata encouraged journalists to educate their audiences about the different methods of childbirth spacing, which include a variety of modern and traditional options.
These range from birth control pills and injections to barrier methods such as condoms, traditional practices, and even permanent solutions like sterilization.
Bata stressed the numerous benefits of childbirth spacing, both at the individual and societal levels.
For women, spacing pregnancies can offer opportunities to pursue further education, grow their businesses, and gain a sense of independence.
In addition, childbirth spacing plays an important role in population control, a crucial aspect of national development.
She also linked the practice to improved health outcomes for children. Citing research, she mentioned that babies born to mothers who practice childbirth spacing tend to be healthier, often weighing around 4.1kg at birth.
In contrast, those who do not engage in the practice may give birth to underweight infants, some as small as 2.1kg or less.
Bata also highlighted the challenges posed by cultural and social norms, as well as governmental policies that can either support or hinder childbirth spacing.
She urged the journalists in attendance to ensure their reporting remained fact based and objective, avoiding personal opinions or biases.
By focusing on accurate, evidence-based information, journalists could build trust with their audiences and help foster a more informed public.
In addition to addressing childbirth spacing methods and benefits, the training session also explored strategies for raising awareness through various media outlets, including both traditional and social media platforms.
As part of the ongoing effort to promote the message of childbirth spacing, plans were also made to visit selected educational institutions, such as the Women Teachers College Maiduguri (WTC) and the Agency for Mass Literacy.
These visits aim to extend the conversation about childbirth spacing to younger audiences and the wider community.
Through this initiative, The Challenge Initiative hopes that trained journalists will serve as effective advocates for childbirth spacing, helping to drive conversations that lead to healthier families, empowered women, and sustainable national development.
