By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna Health leaders, government officials, and senior journalists gathered in Kaduna State on Thursday ...
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Health leaders, government officials, and senior journalists gathered in Kaduna State on Thursday for a one-day roundtable focused on turning complex health data into public stories that drive accountability and improve outcomes.
The meeting, hosted by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), brought together the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, the Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Contributory Health Management Authority, development partners, civil society groups, and media executives.
The core of the discussion centered on translating evidence from Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS), Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) indicators, PHC Facility Assessment Tool (PHC-FAT) scorecards, and health insurance data into accurate and compelling reportage.
Speaking on behalf of ISMPH Executive Director Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, MFR, ISMPH Abuja Manager Mr. Phillip Mouneke said the engagement was designed to bridge the gap between data generation and public understanding.
“While the health sector generates extensive data to guide service delivery, much of it remains underused in public discourse due to gaps in communication and interpretation,” Mouneke said. “When health institutions and media professionals collaborate, citizens become better informed, policymakers receive stronger support, and health systems become more responsive.”
ISMPH said the roundtable aimed to build a shared understanding of Kaduna’s key health data and priorities, strengthen journalists’ capacity for evidence-based reporting, identify actionable story angles, and reinforce partnerships between government, media, civil society, and development partners.
The ultimate goal, the organization stated, is to ensure that evidence drives public discourse, and that public discourse contributes to improved health outcomes for residents across the state.
Representing the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Ummulkulsum Ahmed, Director of Public Health Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Idris stressed that accurate and timely health reporting is essential to converting data into action. He urged journalists to strengthen their capacity for evidence-based health storytelling.
“Media coverage directly shapes public understanding and support for key interventions including Routine Immunization, Primary Health Care, Nutrition, RMNCAH, Polio Vaccine Campaigns, and contributory health schemes,” Dr. Idris said.
He warned that data alone does not drive change unless it is communicated effectively to the public, adding that without clear, factual reporting, misinformation can undermine efforts to improve health outcomes and erode public trust.
The Ministry pledged to deepen collaboration between health institutions, media, communities, and development partners to ensure accurate information reaches Kaduna residents. Officials said the partnership is vital to fostering informed public discourse, combating false narratives, and advancing positive health outcomes.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Kaduna Health Advocacy and Media Alliance (KADHAMA), Comrade Garba Muhammad, called for deeper collaboration among government, development partners, civil society, and media leaders to strengthen evidence-based health reporting in the state.
He said accurate, ethical, and data-driven journalism is critical to shaping public understanding and influencing positive health behaviors.
“The timing of this engagement is crucial as reliable information remains central to improving health outcomes and restoring public trust in health systems,” Muhammad said. “Translating complex health data into compelling public narratives will drive accountability and prompt action from policymakers and communities.”
KADHAMA pledged to equip journalists with the knowledge, skills, and partnerships needed to produce impactful stories advancing reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, primary healthcare, and health insurance coverage in Kaduna.
The alliance said it expects actionable commitments from the roundtable that will raise the quality of health reporting and deliver better outcomes for residents.
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