Efforts to curb maternal deaths and improve health outcomes for expecting mothers in Lagos State have taken a significant step forward as the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) recently empowered journalists with new strategies for factual, impactful maternal health coverage. With the message that no woman should die while bringing new life into the world, ISMPH calls for responsible, accurate, and human-centred health reporting to guide crucial decisions for women and families.
The Power of the Media in Health Advocacy
According to ISMPH, the way health stories are told directly influences how women connect with and use information to make choices about pregnancy, childbirth, and their overall wellbeing. Quality, reliable health coverage can arm pregnant women and mothers with the knowledge needed to access critical services, practice healthy behaviors, and demand better care.
The organization stressed that media professionals should make evidence-based storytelling a priority, both in traditional and digital spaces, especially when they are reporting on issues such as maternal and newborn health, family planning, sexual and reproductive health, adolescent health, and matters related to gender and gender-based violence. By centering information on the lived experiences of women and girls, journalists can play an essential role in highlighting challenges while also inspiring solutions across Nigeria and West Africa at large.
Why Maternal Health Reporting Matters
Maternal health covers every aspect of a woman’s journey: from pregnancy to childbirth and the critical weeks following delivery. In countries like Nigeria, where maternal mortality rates remain among the highest worldwide, focused media advocacy is viewed as a lifeline. Local health experts argue that a well-informed society can better recognize risks like pre-eclampsia, hemorrhage, or complications due to delayed access to facilities, and thus push for timely interventions.
A Capacity-Building Push For Lagos Journalists
During a recent two-day training session in Lagos—attended by both mainstream media practitioners and influential voices from online platforms—ISMPH Executive Director Moji Makanjuola, represented by Director of Programmes Mr. Solomon Dogo, made a fervent call for boosted reportage on topics that directly affect maternal health outcomes. Makanjuola asked journalists to put a spotlight not only on the stories of mothers but also on systemic barriers that contribute to Nigeria’s persistent challenges.
The intensive workshop equipped reporters with practical tools to document and amplify issues surrounding Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N), gender justice, gender-based violence, and the importance of widespread enrollment in health insurance.
This event, organized by ISMPH and CCSI in collaboration with the Engender Health Consortium, is a core element of an ongoing three-year pilot aiming to raise awareness and transform media narratives about maternal and infant deaths in Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna State. By training journalists, the initiative hopes to spark conversations and drive deep, lasting change at the community level—where decisions about health often begin.
Media’s Influence on Health Policy and Behaviour
Public health analysts acknowledge the media’s agenda-setting capacity: it shapes not just the facts and figures seen by the public, but often how society reacts to urgent issues. “Through the stories they choose and the ways they frame information, journalists influence how health problems are prioritized at both state and federal levels,” Dogo noted during the training.
Makanjuola, a veteran of health journalism in Nigeria, also explained that accurate health narratives do more than simply inform: they can change public perceptions, shift social norms, and help the public to recognize and demand better health systems. “One well-told story rooted in real experiences holds the power to move entire communities toward life-saving action,” she emphasized. She encouraged participants to build trust with their audiences and avoid sensationalism, noting that real, sincere accounts resonate much more deeply and foster empathy—especially in contexts like Nigeria, where health disparities often go unseen or unspoken.
Journalists were told to give significant space to mothers’ perspectives—making sure stories reflect lived realities and are not just abstract discussions. Only by grounding maternal health coverage in the stories and struggles of women themselves, Makanjuola claimed, can media drive meaningful social change.
Health Information as a Tool for Change
Across the world, health information remains a vital asset—often the bridge between traditional beliefs, medical knowledge, and informed decision-making. In Nigeria’s highly diverse society, the availability of pertinent and accessible news can help communities challenge outdated practices and replace them with evidence-backed choices about pregnancy and childcare.
As highlighted in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equitable access to health information is key to communities prospering socially, politically, and economically. Officials at the training pointed out that informed citizens are more likely to seek quality care, embrace preventive medicine—like going for antenatal visits—and ultimately build more resilient societies.
The UN underscores this point: When women have up-to-date, reliable health knowledge, they make safer choices, engage more confidently with healthcare systems, and help reduce the risks of complications that could otherwise lead to tragic maternal and child deaths.
“Providing timely and relevant information to mothers is not optional—it’s non-negotiable if we want to drive down numbers of preventable deaths,” Makanjuola added. She reiterated that the training was convened specifically to pull together health-focused journalists ready to raise awareness and advocate for policy changes that put women first.
The Situation in Nigeria: Sobering Numbers and A Road Ahead
Nigeria’s challenge is urgent. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 aims to lower global maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. However, as of 2018, data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reported the country’s rate to be a staggering 512 per 100,000—one of the highest globally.
This reality has dire implications for Nigerian families. Lagos, as the nation’s largest city and economic centre, faces significant hurdles in providing accessible prenatal care, safe delivery facilities, and education that dispels harmful myths about childbirth and reproductive health. Sociologists and health workers warn that unless more mothers are enrolled in health insurance programs, seek prenatal care at recognized facilities (not at home), and embrace child spacing strategies, progress may remain slow.
Makanjuola explained, “We want to see the statistics for maternal deaths dropping every single day. There’s a dire need for the media to shift the narrative by spreading the right information that compels women and their communities to act.” She urged reporters to continuously reinforce the benefits of antenatal care and advocate for pregnant women to give birth in health centres equipped for emergencies—practices that save both mothers’ and children’s lives.
Local observer Aisha Lawal, a community nurse from Ibeju-Lekki, commented, “Too often we see complications that could have been avoided if mothers knew the early warning signs or had access to basic health services. Getting these messages out through the media can make a world of difference.”
Media as a Catalyst for Policy and Culture
At the training, ISMPH’s Gender and Social Inclusion expert, Olumide Olaniyan, reminded journalists that their role goes beyond news gathering. By putting maternal health on the public agenda—using every available platform—they not only raise awareness, but actually catalyze local and national action. “Your stories can make maternal health a political priority,” he said, “and that’s how real change happens.”
He encouraged workshop participants to apply their new knowledge vigorously, challenging old narratives and championing policies and practices that will protect mothers and their children, both in Lagos and across Nigeria.
Comparative Lessons and the Regional Picture
While Nigeria’s maternal mortality rates are among the highest globally, other West African countries such as Ghana have made visible progress by introducing free maternal health programs, strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers, and ramping up nationwide health insurance. Observers say that Nigeria can draw on these models, customizing them to suit its unique population and geographical challenges.
Experts stress that lessons from countries that have reduced maternal mortality rapidly often center on political will, continuous media advocacy, and grassroots mobilization—demonstrating that while the battle is tough, it can be won with persistent, collective effort.
The Importance of Inclusive Coverage and Lasting Change
As Nigeria works toward the 2030 SDG benchmarks, the consensus among health professionals, advocates, and journalists is that coordinated action is vital. Storytelling that weaves together the voices of experts, affected women, policymakers, and health workers can confront stigma, increase community engagement, and push for urgently-needed investments in maternal health services. The path to reducing maternal mortality is long, but with dedicated media partners on board, it is a journey that promises hope and transformation for millions of Nigerian families.
How can greater collaboration among the media, health professionals, and local communities help move the needle on maternal health outcomes in Nigeria and across West Africa? Share your thoughts, experiences, or suggestions in the comments—your voice could inspire change. Don’t forget to follow us for more updates on health and social development!
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