Third media training for awareness on health issues
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The third four-day media training to improve coverage of and public knowledge about home and hospital-based healthcare for mothers and newborns begins in Islamabad Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006.
Intermedia in partnership with PAIMAN, a project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is holding this four-day workshop for journalists from NWFP. The training is the third of a series of high-quality training workshops for print, radio and television journalists to build the capacity of Pakistani media to cover mother and newborn healthcare (MNH) issues to improve public education on the subject.
Health experts from government, UN and development sectors would give presentations during the four-day trainings. The workshops are ai ed at supporting journalists working in health issues and covering health related activities in selected ten districts of Pakistan and at and national levels. Other than journalists working with mainstream media - print and electronic - correspondents based in focus areas are invited to the workshops.
The trainings will focus on reporting health issues with special reference to healthcare for mothers and newborns; understanding issues related to health care of mothers and newborns; practical solutions to cover health issues, knowledge and practical tools to collect and report health-related data, creating a demand for a health system that delivershigh quality MNH services, increasing awareness and promoting positive maternal and newborn health behaviors by reporting issues related to community involvement in maternal and child health services and service quality in public and private sectors.
The first of the four workshops was held in September and second in Bhurban Nov 21 to 24. In these two trainings, journalists from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Khanewal, DG Khan and Jhelum participated. The training is being held in Islamabad Nov 28 to Dec 1 and the last will be held in Karachi from Dec 19 to Dec 22. Details about the trainings are available at www.intermedia.org.pk.
The project will also develop a formal network of reporters trained in covering MNH issues and resource persons to improve access to data and information on the subject. Trainee journalists will also be awarded stipends for investigative reports and given awards for best reports highlighting MNH issues. Pakistan’s maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity rates are high despite an extensive health service network. Insufficient awareness of major maternal and newborn complications among women, families and birth attendants persist.
Most maternal and newborn deaths occur at home, with no skilled health provider in attendance. According to available statistics, over 80% of women deliver their babies at home, while skilled and trained birth attendants conduct only 20% of deliveries.
The public sector, an important service provider in isolated rural communities, needs improvements in physical infrastructure safe water supply, privacy for female clients, regular supply of drugs, logistics and equipment, and provider capabilities.