Having been recognized as a key ally in the transformational Agenda of the Faith and Cultural Champions ( FCC) project, the media in Kaduna on Wednesday declared their commitment to amplifying the key messages of the Project shifting negative social cultural norms and behaviours to improve the health and well being of the married adolescent girls and young women in the State .
The project now at its Second phase, covering Six Local Government Areas of Jema’a, Kagarko, Chikun, Giwa, Zaria and Kubau, is being handled by the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) Kaduna advocating among others, for mothers to have safe delivery , patronising hospitals as well as childbirth spacing to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
A Co- Executive Director of the IMC, Hayatudeen Nura Asifa emphasized at the interactive session with the media, that the project targeted at adolescent girls and young women, is behavioural shift from “knowing to doing” so as to mitigate the harmful social norms in the society using faith and cultural aspects with the involvement of religious and traditional leaders.
“My organisation focuses on Faith where we use religious aspect to advocate both from Bible and Quran that support taking care of our mothers and childbirth spacing”, he said.
He therefore tasked the media to enlighten the society of the negative effects of harmful cultural norms to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the State.
“Write stories that would encourage men allowing their wives to go to hospitals”.
Asifa observed that despite knowing what to do, most women do not, hence the need for the media to amplify the Project’s message for them to know the importance of going to hospitals.
The IMC Co-Exective Director also stressed the need for effective communication between spouses on issue of pregnancy as well as childbirth spacing without the involvement of a third party.
The Implementing FCC Project Consultant, Daniel Ameh expressed delight at the declaration by the participants, assuring that the Project would always carry the media along to achieve the desired objectives and sustainability.
Reaffirming their commitment to do the needful such as providing airtime in their respective Radio and Television stations as well as writing features in print and online platforms, the participants however urged the implementers to always keep them abreast with their activities.
The FCC Project is a 3-year initiative by the Centre for Communications and Social Impact ( CCSI) aimed at improving the health of married adolescent girls and young women in Kaduna and Kano States.
It is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by the Centre for Communication and Social Impact
