In recognition of the media as its key ally, the Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) project has called for partnership in shifting harmful social and cultural norms that negatively affect the health and well being of married adolescent girls and young women.
The move was made on Thursday in Kaduna, North West Nigeria at a strategic media roundtable, themed ” Amplifying Faith, Culture and Community Voices for better health outcome.
With participants drawn from various media organisations, were FCC trusted Muslim, Christian and traditional leaders who are using scripture, cultural values and community platform for antenatal care, child birth spacing and spousal communication.
The leaders who held panel discussion, shared their experiences in the course of their operations with their respective audiences at either mosques, churches or communities .
The FCC project enjoined the media who have made their commitments, to use their platforms to amplify its messages through better told community stories on the harmful effects of the norms to achieve the under mentioned desired results.
These include Improved knowledge, attitude and behaviour among faith leaders and their audience towards Maternal Newborn Healthcare and Child Spacing, Increased Quantity and quality of faith leaders message content on priority issue outcome, Improved attitudes, behaviour or norms related to priority outcome on MNCH and CS/ FP at the community level as well as Increased progress on priority AGYW outcomes, Increased ANC visits, facility delivery, contraceptive use and reduced maternal deaths.
Mother with a toddler from Chikun LGA who embraced Childbirth Spacing acknowledging the benefits of the FCC project
The norms had been identified to have prevented married adolescents girls and young women (AGYW) from using quality maternal healthcare , childcare and child birth spacing services in Kaduna and Kano states
These concerns led to a 3- year Initiative being implemented by the Centre for Communication and Social Impact ( CSSI) with support from Gates Foundation operating in the two States to improve maternal and reproductive health
The 3 – year project in Kaduna which covers Giwa, Zaria, Jema, Kubau, Chikun, Kagarko. Kachia, Lere, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Soba and Zagon Kataf ends in October 2027.
