Groups Move To Strengthen Evidence-based Health Reportage

By Lilian U. Okoro

The International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) in conjunction with Engender Health, on Thursday held a roundtable dialogue aimed at strengthening journalists’ capacity on evidence-based health reporting to improve health outcomes.

Speaking at the event in Lagos, the Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, identified the media as a powerful tool for shaping  public discourse and influence government policies.

The event brought together health journalists, government officials, and key stakeholders to chat pathways to enhance evidence-based health reporting and promote informed public discourse on primary healthcare in Lagos State.

Represented by Mr Solomon Dogo, the Director of Programme, ISMPH, Makanjuola decried that a lot of data were being generated, but not properly disseminated for public use, saying that the dialogue would bridge that gap.

According to her, the dialogue also aims to not only strengthen media understanding of data usage, but improve partnership between media and various government agencies.

“Achieving these goals requires a prompt review, responsive decisions, and immediate action plans to communicate health evidence/information accurately and responsibly.

“Therefore, seize this opportunity to begin collaboration, strengthen the core of our communities, and develop concrete commitments that will advance evidence-based reporting and enhance public accountability and transparency,” Makanjuola said.

Speaking, Dr Temitope  Balogun-Alo, the Director, Health Planning Research and Statistics, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), reiterated commitment to quality healthcare delivery at the community levels.

Balogun-Alo urged Lagos residents to take advantage of the various healthcare services rendered across Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state.

Highlighting statistics of improvement in promoting healthcare, she reveled that 81 PHCs in the state offer 24 hours healthcare services, translating to at least one PHC existing in each local government of Lagos State.

On capacity building of the healthcare workers, Balogun-Alo said efforts were made for continuous training to not improve their capacity, but also to ensure attitudinal change among the health workers in the PHCs.

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“A lot of healthcare services are now available across the PHCs in Lagos, as 81 out of the existing 342 primary centres offering 24 hours services.

“Presently, we have standard designed PHCs in Lagos, and available services include maternal and child care, preventive services, cervical and HIV screening among others,” she said.

Mrs Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro, Head, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), urged Lagos residents to uptake health insurance scheme to  reduce effects of high cost of healthcare.

Highlighting efforts of the agency in improving health outcomes and access to data/information, Tayo-Adetoro said the agency introduced Ilera Eko spotlight and other social media handles where residents and journalists could access health information.

She cited capacity development training for the journalists and quarterly media parley of the agency as other media engagements.

The event featured goodwill messages from various organisations including the Lagos State Unified Media Health Coalition and the Society for Family Health. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu