The Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (Rotary-RMCH) has equipped Nigerian Journalists with skills required to create awareness for the reduction of maternal (mothers) and neonatal (infant) deaths in the country.
Speaking at a two day workshop held in Abuja, Rotary-RMCH Nigeria Country Director, Emmanuel Lufadeju noted that journalists had the power to shape public discourse and urged them to use their platform to change the narrative.
Lufadeju informed that the “TOGETHER FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES IN NIGERIA’’ (THFN) Programs of Scale (PoS) was an initiative through which Rotary members show their commitment to improving maternal and infant health.
The aim, he said was to provide mothers and newborns with targeted healthcare, while also improving the overall access to life saving services.
This, he said was expected to elicit immediate and enduring impact on mothers and the wider community by reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria, hence the theme.
He added that the overall objective of the program was to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality (deaths) by 25%.
According to him, “the program commenced implementation in 4 locations in November 2022- FCT (1 Local Government Area- Abuja Municipal Area Council), Nasarawa (Akwanga and Lafia LGAs), Gombe (Gombe and Yamaltu Deba LGAs) and Ekiti states (Ado-Ekiti and Ijero LGAs) in 49 facilities in total. Owing to the success recorded, as of July 2025, the program has expanded to 103 facilities across the 4 locations”.
The Country Director explained that Rotary RMCH was conducting the training to sensitize journalists on the need to engage the communities on a critical issue that affects everyone: reducing maternal and neonatal mortalities in Nigeria.
“As journalists, you have the power to shape public discourse, influence policy, and inspire action. I urge you to use your platform to shed light on this pressing issue”, he said.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 5.9 million children under five die annually due to malnutrition, poor healthcare, and inadequate sanitation. Reacting to the report, Lufadeju emphasized that, this was a call to action for to make a difference.
“In Nigeria the statistics are alarming, maternal mortality rate stands at 993 deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest in the world. This translates to over 700 women dying daily from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications. Every day, thousands of mothers risk their lives giving birth, and millions of children die from preventable causes”, he said.
He informed that through the Rotary Foundation (TRF), they had expanded access to quality healthcare for mothers and children by providing prenatal care, family planning, and birth kits distribution to vulnerable communities, training Healthcare Workers and also supporting trained healthcare providers for mothers and children.
“As Rotarians, we are committed to reducing maternal and child mortality rates. We believe that every mother deserves a safe journey through motherhood, and every child deserves a healthy start in life. Our efforts aim to empower local communities to take ownership of their healthcare, ensuring sustainability and long-term impact.
“As storytellers, you have a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of maternal and child health. By sharing the stories of women and families affected by maternal and neonatal mortality, you can humanize the issue and mobilize public support. Your reporting can also hold policymakers and healthcare providers accountable for ensuring access to quality healthcare services”, Lufadeju said.
He therefore, urged the participants to use their journalistic skills to investigate the root causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and report on the human impact.
They were also tasked to amplify the voices of women, families, and communities affected by maternal and neonatal mortality.
Furthermore, the Country Director, urged them to hold policy makers and healthcare providers accountable for ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
“By working together, we can reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Nigeria. I encourage you to use your platform to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. Together, we can save lives and improve the health and well-being of mothers and children across our nation”, he said.
