In a move to strengthen public health advocacy and reporting, health journalists and media advocacy groups in Lagos State have formally signed an agreement establishing the Lagos State Unified Health Media Coalition.
This coalition, hailed as a landmark development, is designed to unify voices across the health media landscape and drive accountability in the state’s health sector.
The agreement, endorsed by authorised representatives of recognised health media networks and associations, signals a new era of collaboration. It underscores the urgent need to advance critical public health priorities, including Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Primary Health Care (PHC), health financing, reproductive health, and other pressing health development issues.
The coalition was formalised at a strategic meeting in Lagos, facilitated by partners such as, EngenderHealth, the International Society for Media in Public Health, and the Lagos State Ministry of Health. The gathering brought together leading voices in health journalism, determined to reshape the narrative around health reporting in Nigeria.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Solomon Dogo of the International Society for Media in Public Health declared that the coalition would serve as a unified voice to drive accountability and evidence‑based reporting. “The media plays a powerful role in shaping public discourse and strengthening policy accountability. This coalition is about harmonising our voices, improving coordination, and ensuring that health issues receive the strategic attention they deserve,” Dogo asserted.
According to the agreement, the coalition will function strictly as a coordination and advocacy platform. It will not interfere with the internal structures, identities, or operations of member networks, each of which retains full autonomy over its governance and activities. Leadership of the coalition will be determined through a transparent process, either by consensus or election, with member networks pledging to recognise and support the agreed structure.
Signatories to the agreement include the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (RHJN), the Knowledge Management and Communication Subcommittee of LASAM, and the Society for Media Advocacy on Health Nigeria (SOMAH), among others.
By signing, members committed to active participation, joint advocacy initiatives, unity and professionalism, constructive engagement in resolving internal differences, and strengthening coordinated stakeholder engagement.
Witnesses to the signing included representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and development partners, who lauded the coalition as a timely intervention. Participants drawn from diverse media interest groups emphasised that the coalition would foster unity of purpose and elevate health reporting within the Nigerian media space.
They noted its potential to enhance public office accountability and promote impactful stories capable of shaping sound health policies and advancing universal health coverage.
With the formation of the coalition, Lagos health journalists are now poised to present a stronger, coordinated front in advocating for improved health outcomes and sustainable reforms.
The agreement represents serves as a binding commitment to transform health journalism into a formidable force for change.
In a state where health challenges remain pressing, the coalition’s emergence is a bold declaration that the media will no longer operate in silos but as a unified body determined to hold institutions accountable and ensure that health remains at the forefront of public discourse.
