By Joseph Edegbo
Pathfinder International, a leader in Reproductive Health Rights and family planning, has honoured AFRICA PRIME NEWS with an award for its consistency in reporting family planning issues, and creating visibility on benefit of child spacing in Nigeria.
Presenting the Plaque in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, Country Director of Pathfinder International, Dr. Amina Aminu Dorayi, said, the award was in recognition of the Media Advocacy role played by AFRICA PRIME NEWS, which contributed to several successes, including creation of family planning budget line and better policy environment in Kaduna.
“This Award is presented to you for your contributions to successes recorded in family planning,” Dr. Dorayi said, while presenting the Award.
Receiving the award, the Publisher/Editor in Chief, Iliya Kure, thanked Pathfinder International for acknowledging the platform’s consistent reporting on Family Planning issues which was done with passionate interest.
He said it might interest Pathfinder International and other FP advocates to know that the platform’s teaming followers resolutely cherish most reports on family planning, “hence our avowed commitment to remaining one of the leading media advocates in that direction.
“Without mincing words, the Award will spur AFRICA PRIME NEWS to remain resolute towards ensuring that the goals of family planning are attained,” he assured.
Nine other media organisations drawn from Benue, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos, and Oyo states were also honoured for their media advocacy roles.
Pathfinder International
Pathfinder International was founded in 1957, in United States of America and came to Nigeria in 1965. So far, its journey has transformed lives and led to significant changes in Nigeria’s sexual and reproductive health space.
With the vision that every person, regardless of where they live, has a right to sexual and reproductive health, Pathfinder International Nigeria partners with local organisations to make sure the hardest-to-reach people have access to life-saving services.
The driving force for Pathfinder International in Nigeria is the large population and inadequately funded healthcare system, where millions in the country lack access to essential health services.
The NDHS 2018 shows, eighty-six percent of married women of reproductive age aren’t using modern method of contraception. It also reveals that each year, an estimated 58,000 women die from pregnancy and childbirth complications in Nigeria.
Mandate of Pathfinder International Nigeria
- Make sure women have access to high-quality, respectful maternal care from their home to the health facility.
- Mobilize communities to identify danger signs and activate emergency transport systems, so pregnant women at risk reach facilities.
- Create innovative digital health tools that help providers deliver higher quality services more effectively.
- Make sure a full range of contraceptive methods is available, so people of all ages can choose the option that’s best for them.
- Train providers to deliver health care to young people, including HIV services for adolescents and young mothers.
- Call on policymakers to create policies and make budget decisions that uphold people’s sexual and reproductive rights.
At the global scale, Pathfinder International works in 26 countries on issues around *Adolescents & youth *Advocacy *Contraception & family planning *Gender Hiv & aids *Maternal & newborn health *Population, health, & environment *Safe abortion care *Covid-19.
In the area of family planning, their work has influenced about 7 million women to visit health facilities for contraceptive services.