Journalists, media professionals, and social media influencers in Ebonyi State have been equipped with critical knowledge and tools to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocacy, as part of efforts to address stigma, discrimination, and rights violations affecting vulnerable populations.
The capacity-building engagement, organised by the Daughters of Virtue and Empowerment Initiative (DOVENET) in partnership with Jhpiego, held on Friday at the DOVENET Conference Hall in Abakaliki.
The training forms part of a broader intervention under the Advancing Integrated Health Services Including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Communicable Diseases (CD) project, designed to strengthen access to inclusive, youth-friendly, and integrated primary healthcare services across selected communities in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Peter Ewa, who represented the State Executive Officer, Chief Mrs. Ugo Nnachi, said the initiative responds to persistent gaps in primary healthcare delivery, including weak referral systems, fragmented service provision, stigma and discrimination, and limited access to youth-friendly services.
He explained that three Local Government Areas including Afikpo (Ebonyi South), Ezza South (Ebonyi Central), and Ebonyi (Ebonyi North) have been selected as focal areas for the intervention.
According to him, the project adopts an integrated, systems-strengthening approach that combines SRHR services such as family planning, maternal and adolescent health, gender-based violence prevention and response, and cervical cancer awareness with interventions targeting communicable diseases including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexually transmitted infections, and viral hepatitis.
“The goal is to improve equitable access to people-centred, rights-based and youth-friendly health services at both community and primary healthcare levels,” he said.
Ewa added that the programme also prioritises strengthening community–facility linkages, improving bi-directional referral systems, enhancing data quality and accountability, and building the capacity of healthcare workers and community-based organisations.
In his remarks, Programme Officer, Mr. Magnus Igwe, underscored the critical role of the media in shaping public perception and driving behaviour change, noting that journalists are key partners in amplifying accurate health information and promoting rights-based narratives.
He said the sensitisation meeting was designed to deepen media understanding of stigma, gender-based violence, and discrimination, while empowering participants to serve as SRHR champions within their communities.
Participants were urged to leverage ethical reporting standards and evidence-based storytelling to promote inclusive health messaging, counter misinformation, and support increased uptake of essential health services among adolescents, women, and other vulnerable groups.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the intervention is expected to improve service uptake, enhance the quality and responsiveness of healthcare delivery, and strengthen community trust in primary healthcare systems across Ebonyi State.
