Journalists makes case for birth registration

Journalists at a one-day media workshop in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital have harped on the need for prompt and proper registration of every birth conducted in the country.

This they said has become necessary for documentation, monitoring and evaluation of their developments and growths.
It was at the end of a one-day media dialogue by Abia State Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and UNICEF for media chiefs in the Southsouth, Southeast and Northcentral zones  to brainstorm on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), report for 2021, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

According to the survey presented to reporters at the conference, one in every 10 new babies born across the country dies before they grow up to one month old,  and over 100 die in every 1000 children born in the country before they reach five years old.
Participants came from 11 states of the three geopolitical zones, including, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta Benue, and Kogi states.

The workshop was meant to galvanise action, unify with government and persons in position to take favourable action for children and women’s welfare.
It was also meant to call media to action and make commitment for increased reportage on children and women’s situation.

In a resolution by the participants signed by six -member communique drafting Committee  at the conference and led by the chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ),  Rivers State chapter, Stanley Job Stanley, expressed disappointment that some states have remained low in rating as it concerns exclusive breastfeeding, early attendance to antenatal care, routine immunizations, birth registration and called for improved compliance to reduced these gloomy pictures.
Journalists and media workers were urged to give more attention airtime and space on issues concerning women and children.

They challenged the media  to interprete the data contextually so that the audience/readers will understand issues and be able to take actions for improvement.

They expressed the hopes that mortality rates will be reduced by early attendance to health facilities instead of traditional birth attendants.
The meeting applauded UNICEF for continued commitment to ensuring public education on elimination of harmful practices against women’s  and children.

Government and other corporate bodies should continually complement efforts and programmes of UNICEF and others, thereby improving the welfare of women and children.

It was resolved that media should improve and increase its programmes tailored to sensitise people and institutions to understand and embrace the need to stop traditional and cultural practices that are inimical to development of women and children.