MEDIACON ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN

November 25, 2003 – (Vanguard - Lagos) THE media in Nigeria has been tasked to focus more on health issues as they concern women and children in the country. Throwing the challenge in Lagos last week, Media Concern for Women and Children (MEDIACON) - a media-based not for profit organization, working in the field of sexuality and reproductive health / rights incorporating developmental issues, noted that the media owed society a social responsibilty by reporting development issues from the perspective of women.

At its maiden focus group discussion, the organisation - which is setting agenda for improved reportage of women and children-related issues in the media - assessed the gaps, strengths, and priorities for action on the reportage of women and children related issues in the media, observed that there had been an under-reporting of issues focused on women and children in the media.

Speaking during the meeting, which was a prelude to developing a framework of action for effective media coverage in the country, the Project Executive Director (Mrs) Princess Olufemi-Kayode said Mediacon has a mission to address, contribute and improve the quality of family structure via primary and secondary public health tools particularly in the area of sexuality and reproductive health/rights in relation to effecting positive nation building and development.

"Mediacon envisages a society where the family structure has healthy sexual and reproductive health behaviour, which would influences long-term solutions for sustaining nation building and development,'she stated. "Today HIV/AIDS is being tackled on a multitudfe of fronts and the media has played an effective stakeholder role. There is need to commend the media in Nigeria for the valiant stride in making HIV/AIDS issues relevant. Yet we have to evaluate and check the media interventions, how it relates to women and children who bear the brunt of every offensive and how the media can be more effective in meeting the challenges and demands."

An active member of the Development Information Network (DevNet), the Civil Society Consultative Group on HIV/AIDS (CiSCGHAN), the Civil Society Coalition on Access to Essential Medicines and the Nigeria HIV Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Group, Mediacon is seeking to create and promote dialogue and informed discourse on issues of sexuality & reproductive health/ rights and how it affects nation building and development in the media and through sensitization programmes, operation of a resource center, seminars, training, study tours, conferences, publications and broadcast materials etc.

Currently, Mediacon is working on series of projects including Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), highlighting the quiet epidemic and relationship with HIV in Nigeria. CSA crosses cultural and socio-economic lines occurring at home, schools and other public places. Through focus group meetings in Lagos and Abuja, Mediacon is also conducting a Media Coverage of Women and Children sexuality and reproductive health/rights including HIV/AIDS.

It has an Advisory Board made up of Dr. Michael Ekpo, a renowned psychiatrist and Medical Director, Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State; Dr. (Mrs.) Morenike Ukpong ,Senior Lecturer/ paedodontist, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Osun State and Dr. Ernest Ekong - Department of Medicine, Military Reference Hospital, Lagos.

Others are Mrs. Stella Iwuagwu - Executive Director, Center for Right to Health; Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye - experienced journalist and Editor-in-Chief, The PUNCH also Vice President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, and Mrs. Princess Olufemi-Kayode - Project Executive Director and head of the secretariat.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200311250254.html