The Executive Director of a Non-governmental Organization, International Society of media in Public Health, ISMPH, Mrs Moji Makanjuola says the media in Nigeria can Change the position of health care through adequate Reportage on critical health issues.
Mrs Makanjuola stated this in Abuja at a one-day training for Journalists and launch of a project to address cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM, in the FCT.
She explained that Severe Acute Malnutrition was a critical health issue that affects mostly those in the rural areas with over 2.5 million suffering from the condition and about 420 thousand annual deaths in the country.
Mrs Makanjuola observed that from the above statistics, 32 percent of Children fewer than 5 are recorded to be affected with SAM.
She noted that the project which is EU-funded, is aimed at addressing the issue of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Kwali and Bwari area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory in the next one year.
The Executive Director of ISMPH said the project seeks to achieve the mandate by empowering vulnerable mothers through improved nutritional knowledge and access to information on SAM.
She emphasized that the participation of the media was essential to generating the required visibility in the issue of Severe Acute Malnutrition in the FCT and demanding accountable action from Government and other Institutions.
Reporting by Emmanuel Kutara, Editing by Daniel Adejo.