By: Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
The Challenge Initiative has trained substantial number of Maiduguri based journalists on advocating for childbirth spacing, equipping them with the skills to educate communities on sustainable development goals through various media platforms.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Hauwa Bata, a senior health reporter with over ten years of experience, urged participants to use their knowledge, experience, and understanding of religion and culture to effectively persuade their audiences about the benefits of childbirth spacing.
Bata explained that childbirth spacing involves intentionally delaying pregnancies to control the number of children, ensuring that families can adequately support them. She encouraged journalists to educate their audiences about various methods of spacing, including pills, injections, traditional methods, barrier methods, and permanent options, all of which contribute to the health and well-being of both mothers and children.
She emphasized that childbirth spacing allows women to pursue education, enhance their businesses, and achieve autonomy, all while contributing to population control and national development. Bata highlighted that women practicing childbirth spacing tend to have healthier children, with newborns weighing around 4.1kg, compared to lower birth weights of 2.1kg or less among those who do not practice spacing.
Bata also addressed the cultural and social norms, as well as government policies, that influence childbirth spacing. She urged journalists to ensure their reports are fact-based rather than opinion-driven.
The training also discussed strategies for raising awareness through traditional media and social media platforms, with plans to visit selected schools such as Women Teachers College Maiduguri WTC and the Agency for Mass Literacy to further promote the message.
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