The Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) unit at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is building the capacity of journalists on reproductive health commodity security (RHCS).
The weeklong training seeks to enhance the capacity of participants and raise more public awareness on the use of commodity contraceptive.
Funded by the UNFPA, the training also aims at equipping electronic reporters at the provinces and print reporters on the RHCS.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the Serrekunda General Hospital in Kanifing, Bafoday Jawara, head of reproductive health unit at the Ministry of Health, underscored the importance his office attaches to promoting the maternal health of pregnancy.
He said journalists can play important roles in raising more public awareness on commodity security to ensure that every person is able to choose, obtain and use quality contraceptive.
Mr Jawara thanked the UNFPA for their support to the RCH unit in attaining quality healthcare services in the country.
Momodou Mboge, RCH coordinator, noted agency’s commitment in providing maternal and life-saving drugs and in improving the health status of women and girls.
He asserted that the application of contraceptive and maternal life-saving drugs has been successful, meaning there is enough contraceptive commodity.
He called on the media to be more proactive in carrying effective information dissemination of commodity contraceptive security to bring about meaningful development on the health of women and girls.
Famara Fatty, senior reproductive health officer, in his presentation, dilated on the benefit of commodity contraceptive, roles of the media and advocacy in popularizing the uptake of contraceptive commodity to save life and improve the health status of women security.
He also stated that reproductive health commodity security exists when every person is able to choose, obtain and use quality contraceptives and other essential reproductive health products they need.
According to him, the attainment of Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 depends on the availability of reproductive health services and supplies.
He also said reproductive health commodity security is essential to reproductive health service and quality care. This, he noted, is unattainable without secure supply of reproductive commodities.
