In order to improve maternal health and family planning in Rwanda, the media has been called upon to play a role and inform the public on the good practices of safe motherhood and family planning.

During a media workshop on safe motherhood and family planning organized by White Ribbon Alliance, members of various media houses were told to join the struggle in saving lives through advocating for safe motherhood.

White Ribbon Alliance is an international coalition which pushes for change to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for women and newborns around the world.

The Chairperson of White Ribbon Alliance, Rwanda, Alphonsine Mukarugema, said that the media’s role is extremely vital in improving maternal health.

She said that since many Rwandans read newspapers, listen to various radio stations and watch television, the media was a good channel to disseminate such fundamental information.

Mukarugema also commended the role of Community Health Workers in Rwanda who encourage women to go for antenatal care and give birth from proper health facilities other than their homes or with traditional birth attendants.

The Country Director of John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Jeremie Zoungrana, urged the media to advocate for more midwives and medics in the maternal health sector.

"The more health workers there are, the less maternal deaths likely to be faced. The health budget should also be allocated to at least 15% of the population in order to improve maternal health,”Zougrana said.

He commended Rwandan Parliament for showing the will and being champions of safe motherhood.

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