By GARBA MUHAMMAD

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), the EngenderHealth-led consortium and the Unified Health Media Network Kaduna Health Advocacy and Media Alliance (KADHAMA), will hold a one-day roundtable discussion aimed at strengthening evidence-based health reporting in the state.

The event, scheduled for June 23 at Dome Suites, Kaduna, will bring together senior government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and media executives to enhance the capacity of journalists to generate data-driven stories and shape public discourse on healthcare issues.

The roundtable, themed “Strengthening Capacity to Generate Evidence-Based Stories and Shape Public Discourse on RMNCAH, PHC and Contributory Health Scheme,” will focus on the use of Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) data, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) indicators, and Primary Health Care Facility Assessment Tool (PHC FAT) scorecards.

Expected participants include the Commissioner for Health, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB), the Director-General of the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA), representatives of the Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM), the Kaduna Health Advocacy and Media Alliance (KADHAMA), and development partners.

According to the agenda, technical sessions will provide participants with an overview of the current RMNCAH situation and health insurance enrolment in Kaduna State, while experts will present key findings from the PHC FAT scorecard and ISS data to highlight trends, gaps and priorities in service delivery and accountability.

Director of Community Health Services at the KSPHCB, Hajiya Nafisat Musa Isah, is expected to lead discussions on the implications of PHC FAT findings for Kaduna State, while Dr Dutse Musa of the board’s Department of Planning, Research and Statistics will guide participants on translating health data into compelling public narratives.

The agenda also includes a session on ethics and accuracy in health data reporting to be facilitated by Garba Muhammad, Co-Chair of KADMAM.

A panel discussion moderated by veteran broadcaster Moji Makanjuola will examine opportunities for stronger collaboration between the media and health sector stakeholders. Panellists are expected to include the Commissioner for Health, the Executive Secretary of KSPHCB, the Director-General of KADCHMA, representatives of development partners and media organisations.

Organisers said the meeting is expected to deepen journalists’ understanding of health data, generate actionable story ideas and strengthen collaboration among government institutions, civil society groups and the media to improve public accountability and health outcomes in Kaduna State.

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