Group Calls for Multi-sector Collaboration for Smarter Health Reporting in South east

By Praise Chinecherem

The South-East edition of the Solutions Journalism (SoJo) Field Trip opened with a strong call for deeper collaboration between the media and health sector actors to strengthen evidence-based reporting on reproductive health, innovation, and community-driven solutions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chibuike Alagboso, Director of Media Programs at Nigeria Health Watch (NHW), said the partnership with MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices was driven by the shared understanding that no single organisation can sufficiently address the country’s complex health challenges without collaboration.

“We are partnering first of all because we understand the value of partnership. There’s only so much we can do, but by the time we put our resources together, MSI Nigeria brings years of experience, access to the right stakeholders, and deep roots in communities,” he said.

Alagboso explained that Nigeria Health Watch, with 15 years of health communication and advocacy experience, is leveraging its platforms to keep health issues on the national agenda.

The SoJo Field Trip, according to him, seeks to equip journalists, editors, and newsroom leaders with the skills to identify and report solutions that are working across communities.

“Yes, we know the issues are many, but in spite of that, we cannot ignore the pockets of innovation, pockets of hope and inspiration out there.

“How do we make sure these efforts are spotlighted so others can learn and replicate them? That is why we are doing this,” he added.

Alagboso emphasised the need to confront social and religious barriers that hinder the uptake of health interventions.

Acknowledging the country’s deep religious identity, the Director stressed that journalists must help the public make informed decisions based on facts, evidence, and science.

“For us, it is about amplifying issues only with facts, evidence, and data—and that’s where MSI comes in. They have the field experience, the research, and the real-life examples that show what works,” he posited.

Also speaking, Chibuike Utaka, Head of Marketing and Communications at MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, welcomed participants and reflected on his long-standing relationship with the media.

He said MSI Nigeria’s work has always recognized the media as a critical driver of development outcomes, which is why the organization remains committed to engaging journalists as partners in improving public understanding of sexual and reproductive health.

“Reproductive health is very important to anything and everything you can think of. If a woman is not healthy, the family is sick; if the family is sick, the country is sick. And if the country is sick, our productivity will be sick,” he said.

Utaka described MSI Nigeria as a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health services, supporting over 10 percent of public health facilities nationwide.

“The organization’s services include medical centres offering comprehensive SRH care, mobile outreach teams, and community-based service channels,” he noted.

Utaka reaffirmed MSI’s vision that by 2030, one in every three women who receive sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria will access them through MSI or MSI-supported facilities.

He noted that the SoJo Field Trip offers journalists valuable insights, data, and facts that will strengthen their storytelling and deepen their coverage of SRHR issues.

“There is nothing a journalist needs more than insights, data, and facts. These are what make you tell stories with confidence and ease,” he said.

Both organizations expressed confidence that the week-long engagement will equip journalists with the tools to produce impactful, evidence-driven reporting that advances public health outcomes across the region.

Participants – journalists drawn from various media outlets from South-east and South-south regions which form the MSI Nigeria Southeast region expressed satisfaction with the Field Trip to which they committed to give their best.