Award launches to spur health reporters

The Accountability for MNCH in Nigeria (AMHiN) award targets “inspiring and compelling stories that are capable of catalysing a change in the health sector for the betterment of Nigerian women and children,” said organisers at its launch Thursday in AbujaIn addition to a N50,000 cash prize, five winning stories will be posted on a website […]

The Accountability for MNCH in Nigeria (AMHiN) award targets “inspiring and compelling stories that are capable of catalysing a change in the health sector for the betterment of Nigerian women and children,” said organisers at its launch Thursday in Abuja
In addition to a N50,000 cash prize, five winning stories will be posted on a website for MamaYe, an ongoing DFID project to improve health for rural women in six African countries and in some six northern Nigerian states.
Organisers want journalists to make accountability a cornerstone in their reporting, said Dr Aminu Magashi, northern regional coordinator for Evidence 4 Action, which runs the MamaYe project in Nigeria.
“Nigeria made a commitment of $11.5 million to purchase drugs for family planning at a conference in London.
“As at the end of 2013, not a dollar has been released. We are supposed to set the agenda for health reporting but we don’t do it.
“We only do crisis reporting,” said Cece Fadope of International Centre For Journalists.
She said journalists needed to ask questions about health care, the National Health Bill, health infrastructure, hospital administration, but must maintain balance and fairness. “Don’t get too involved in the story. We need to balance our interests and issues,” she said.