By Murtala Muhammad
About twenty five practicing Journalists in Bauchi state have undergone a two-day training aimed at improving reportage about reproductive health, family planning, protection and Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The training was organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, in partnership with Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The training which was held in Bauchi metropolis brought together participants from broadcast and print media outlets, where they brainstormed on public health issues and improving UNFPA visibility in the state.
The organisation’s areas of intervention include supporting the state government to offer unhindered access to Family Planning services, protection, youths and adolescent health, Birth Registration to its citizens.
In an opening remark, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Rufai commended J4PD for its professional reportage of all development programmes in the state.
Alhaji Ibrahim Rufa’i also acknowledged the unwavering support of UNFPA to the state government assuring continued partnership for development.
In her remark, the UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Muriel Mafico expressed satisfaction that the journalists in Bauchi state have advanced the UNFPA’s activities and drawing public attention towards them.
Ms Mafico, represented by the Bauchi State Programme Officer of UNFPA, Ms Deborah Tabara said the training was also aimed at ensuring that issues of unmet needs for Family Planning, issues around GBV and maternal health in tandem with the state government’s development plan.
She said UNFPA was proud to have the media team and its coordinated approach to reporting its interventions in the state, expressing gratitude to the State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination for making the training a success.
Speaking at the closing of the two-day training session, the Executive Director of J4PD, Ms Elizabeth Kah expressed optimism that the participants garnered the required knowledge to authoritatively report health issues.
She urged the trainees to journalistically apply the knowledge acquired in their daily reports for the overall benefits and development of people in the state.
Radio Nigeria reports that during the two-day training sessions, the participants received a series of virtual paper presentations by experts from the UNFPA’s Abuja and Kaduna State offices.