NGO courts media on maternal healthcare

Foundation for Community Support Services (Focus) has said political, economic and sports stories often overshadow maternal healthcare although the latter touches on life for everybody.

Speaking during a media orientation in Balaka on Friday, Focus executive director Kossam Munthali said they are implementing Scottish government -funded Increasing Citizen’s Demand for Accountability and Transparency project through Christian Aid to address inadequate community participation in governance and management of health issues in Balaka.

“It is very unfortunate that while we are advocating that women should deliver at hospitals, some health workers are bent on frustrating the very same cause they should be in the forefront promoting and yet the media fails to adequately unearth these issues,” he said.

Munthali also said citizens have a constitutional right to demand accountability and transparency from health service providers and the media could help achieve that by reporting well researched stories.

Nation Publications Limited (NPL) online sub-editor Chikondi Moyo said the orientation improved his understanding of health issues.

Benson Nkhoma-Nsomba of Galaxy Media urged journalists to partner non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for fellowships and sponsorship to unearth problems dogging the health sector in rural areas.n