Improving role of Media in reversing Maternal, Perinatal, Child Deaths in Bauchi through accurate use of data

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J4PD members during the MPCDSR training 

By Akanji Alowoludo, Bauchi

In Bauchi state, the burden of maternal and child mortality and morbidity is quite huge aa can be seen in all relevant surveys and studies carried out in the NDHS 2018 and MICS 2021, a development that has risen a huge cause for concern considering the importance of family health as well as the initiatives of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

Though at the moment, there is no reliable data on maternal and perinatal deaths in Bauchi State, projections from other current surveys on maternal health status of women in the State has indicated an insignificant change in the indices that is supposed to spur all stakeholders to action in the quest to mitigate maternal mortality rate in the state despite the efforts of successive administrations in the state.

According to the current Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of 2021, delivery assisted by any skilled attendant in Bauchi State is only 17.4 percent, while antenatal care (ANC) (at least 4 visits during pregnancy) by any provider is 43.3 percent and ANC (at least 1 visit by skilled provider is 42.5 percent. 

The MICS 2021 also indicated that post-natal healthcare checks for mothers, is 40.4 percent just as the survey also revealed that, women aged 15-49 years (chid bearing age) who received appropriate care in health facilities across Bauchi State, are less than the North-East subregion and National rates. The survey further indicated that early childhood death rates are higher in Bauchi State compared to the rates for the north east and national rate of children dying.

As contained in the MICS 2021, Under-Five mortality per 1000 live birth is 153 which is above the national average of 102 and the entire North-East that stands at 114. Child mortality rate in Bauchi state stands at 70 per 1000 live birth while infant mortality rate is 89 per 1000 live births. Post neonatal and neonatal mortality rates in Bauchi State are 43 and 45 per 1000 live births. (MICS 2021).

From the above statistics, maternal, perinatal and early childhood death rates are higher in Bauchi State compared to the rates for the North-East and National rate of children dying. Most of these deaths, according to health experts are not reported as pregnancy or birth related deaths at the community or, even health facility levels.

The above validated statistics is more than enough reasons to upset any right-thinking Government or concerned stakeholders in the health sector of Bauchi State, this is because, pregnancy or giving birth are not diseases as most of these deaths are preventable only, if government officials and other concerned health stakeholders will rise up to their responsibilities of ensuring quality, effective and efficient healthcare service delivery.

Talking about Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance Response (MPCDSR), it is a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative designed to account for every maternal, perinatal and child deaths whereever it occurs, be it at health facility or home. It is aimed at improving the family health initiatives. 

MPCDSR initiative is aimed to bring out information on identification, notification and determining the causes of all maternal, perinatal and child deaths. Information generated from this enquiry is being use]d to respond with actions, through informed decisions, with a view to preventing future occurrences of such deaths.

With several other programs and innovative approaches being devised to improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) across all levels of healthcare services, the MPCDSR is yet another measure that emphasizes on Quality of Care (QoC) and Quality Improvement (QI) in healthcare services.

The fact remains that, though the State Government has done well in ensuring that there are facilities in all the 323 political wards in the state just as there are Secondary facilities in each of the 20 LGAs as well as partnering with Two tertiary facilities, human resources availability has remained the major factor militating against the objectives of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

The above is therefore leading to high rising issues of Maternal, Perinatal Child Death which MPCDSR is aimed at checking but needing combine efforts of all relevant stakeholders in the Sector. 

However, in order to ensure that there is better understanding of the concept and working of the MPCDSR, the Media has a significant role to play, most importantly, in reversing the negative trend that is negatively impacting on family health in the state. 

The reason for the above is not far fetched because the media has been identified as one of the veritable tools in changing negative perceptions, advocating good practices and holding Government accountable to its responsibilities, thus, leading to formulation of sound policies and implementation.

Worried by the not too good condition of healthcare services delivery, Health Reporters in Bauchi State under the aegis of a Civil Society Organization (CSO), known as Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) had over the past few years, played significant role in advocating for concerted efforts from the Government and non State actors for improved healthcare system in Bauchi State.

The CSO came about after series of trainings, meetings, workshops and confidences organized by Development Communications (DevComs) on issues of family and public health reportage for positive outcome in Bauchi state. The Reporters resolved to work together to cave a niche in that specialized area of reporting. 

However, the capacity of the members of J4PD was effectively and efficiently built by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Integrated Health Programme (IHP) through various capacity building trainings, workshops and conferences in the past 4 years. The capacity building trainings have improved the Journalistic skills of the J4PD members to an international reputation.

One of such capacity building trainings was held recently in Misau on how to effectively and efficiently report issues around the MPCDSR in Bauchi state without raising unnecessary tension with the data of the situation during presentation. 

It can therefore be rightly and confidently said that, without any fear of contradiction, the history of health reportage in Bauchi State cannot be complete with mentioning and recognising the modest contributions of J4PD members and their associates.

A few cases to buttress the above point was the role members of J4PD now, who were members of Journalists Against Polio (JAP) played during the campaign against wild Polio virus that paved the way for certification of Nigeria as polio-free Nation. Not only did they report on their findings on the field during vaccination campaigns, they practically resolved non compliance cases and shared their experiences during review meetings and debriefing. These efforts were rewarded through a certificate of commendation awarded to the Journalists Against Polio by the WHO office in Nigeria.

Another effort of J4PD was when, after a field visit to some primary health care facilities, came face to face with cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) afflicting under five children, leading to mortality cases. The SAM cases were aggravated then, due to stock out of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) supplement used for the mitigating of SAM patients.

J4PD immediately packaged their reports and syndicated it to various media platforms. That singular action prompted Bauchi State Government into allocating Millions of Naira for the procurement of RUTF.

Other outstanding feat of J4PD include: advocacy for 15% budget allocation to health sector and releases, creating awareness on uptake of family planning and other MNCH services in remote communities, calling government attention on omitted MNCH budget line, that was incorporated back into the state budget, and so many community based interface highlighting the importance of accessing health care services at the nearest facilities.

It was little wonder then, when USAID IHP decided to support Bauchi State in resuscitating the activities of the MPCDSR Steering Committee, it saw the need to mainstream J4PD members into one of the subcommittee of the newly reinvigorated MPCDSR Committee. The first thing USAID IHP  did, was to organize an intensive capacity building training for members of J4PD to acquaint them with the concept of MPCDSR.

The objective of the training was to deepen knowledge of the Journalists on the gravity of maternal, newborn and child deaths as well as exposing them to the use of MPCDSR as an evidence-based approach towards preventing such deaths.

Other areas of focus during the training was discussions on the role and contribution of media towards reducing the burden of MNCH deaths and, defining modalities of media reporting of MNCH deaths.