A renewed drive to strengthen health reporting and government accountability in Kaduna State took center stage as the International Society of Media in Public Health, in partnership with EngenderHealth, convened a one-day Capacity Building and Alignment Meeting for media coalitions in the state.
The strategic meeting, held on 17th February 2026, focused on repositioning media networks to work more collaboratively in promoting evidence-based health reporting, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable populations.
A major outcome of the meeting was the nomination of a new leadership team to coordinate the affairs of the coalition in Kaduna State. Garba Mohamed emerged as Chairman, with a mandate to foster unity, coordination, and sustained engagement among media stakeholders in advancing public health advocacy.
In her goodwill message, the Chief Executive Officer of ISMPH, Dr. Moji Makonjuala, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening media coalitions as critical partners in driving health sector reforms. She highlighted the importance of synergy among journalists and media organizations in ensuring that public health issues remain on the front burner of policy discussions.
Dr. Makonjuala also announced plans to visit Kaduna State to further consolidate partnerships and expand support for ongoing initiatives.
Also delivering a goodwill message, a representative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Anthony Shamang, commended ISMPH and its partners for fostering collaboration among media professionals. He emphasized the vital role of the media in translating health data into compelling stories that can influence policy decisions and improve service delivery outcomes.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Program Director of ISMPH, Solomon Dogo, described the meeting as a strategic platform to align goals, harmonize messaging, and build stronger partnerships within the media ecosystem. He stressed that coordinated advocacy remains key to achieving measurable improvements in public health indicators.
The State Coordinator of ISMPH, Abdul Bako, called on media practitioners to sustain the momentum generated at the meeting by prioritizing investigative and data-driven health reporting.
He urged coalition members to work collectively in holding relevant authorities accountable while ensuring that the voices of underserved communities are amplified.
Participants expressed optimism that the restructured coalition would enhance professionalism, deepen collaboration, and strengthen the impact of media-driven health advocacy efforts across Kaduna State.
COV: Khadija Kubau
