By Mustapha Salisu
Health journalists across Kano State have come together under a unified platform known as the Kano Health Journalists Network (KAHJON) to strengthen media advocacy and reporting on Gender-Responsive Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) as well as Primary Health Care (PHC) issues in the state.
The network was inaugurated on Saturday during a stakeholders’ engagement organized by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) under the EngenderHealth-led Consortium at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.
In her welcome remarks, the Executive Director of ISMPH, Madam Moji Makanjuola, MFR, welcomed participants and commended the contributions of various health journalism groups operating across the state.
Represented by the organisation’s Programme Director, Mr. Solomon Dogo, Makanjuola congratulated the newly elected executives and explained that the initiative seeks to bring existing health journalism forums together under one umbrella to enhance reporting on critical health issues, including polio eradication, nutrition, maternal health and other public health concerns.
Dogo disclosed that extensive consultations were held with development partners and government representatives before the initiative was introduced, noting that stakeholders preferred engaging with a single coordinated body rather than multiple fragmented networks.
He further revealed that similar health journalism networks had already been established in Lagos and Kaduna States, stressing that the unified structure would make it easier for partners and government agencies to engage journalists on health-related interventions and advocacy programmes.
Also speaking during the event, ISMPH’s Programme Officer in Kano State, Sabuwa Yahaya shared that the unified platform will enable journalists to coordinate their efforts more effectively, improve access to health-related data, and strengthen advocacy targeted at government institutions and communities.
“As a coalition, it will be stronger and easier to execute health reporting activities, engage government, reach communities and access relevant data,” she said.
She added that the network would further strengthen the impact of health reporting through improved coordination among journalists and stakeholders.
At the end of the exercise, Khadija Aliyu emerged as Chairperson of KAHJON, while Mustapha Hodi Adamu was elected Vice Chairperson. Abdullahi Alhassan emerged as Secretary, and Mustapha Salisu was elected Public Relations Officer (PRO).
The event also featured goodwill messages from development partners, including IBP, LISDEL, CCSI, SANDHEF and CHAI.
Also Public Relations Officers of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Drug Management and Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), and the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) were also part of the alignment, Coordination, Monitoring, and Implementation Meeting.
A major highlight of the engagement was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by members of the newly established Kano Health Journalists Network, formally marking the commencement of the coalition’s activities in the state.
