By Ladi Dapson, Maiduguri
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), fhi360, in collaboration with Alive and Thrive and the Borno State government, has scaled up maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Maiduguri and nine other local government areas of the state, where malnutrition has reduced.
Stakeholders at the fhi360 Alive and thrive project closeout meeting emphasised the vital role of nutrition for a better healthcare system. This message was delivered during the dissemination meeting, which focused on enhancing maternal, infant, and young child nutrition interventions in Nigeria.
They said that enhancing nutrition as a foundation for improving healthcare reinforces the need for continued investment in health initiatives across Nigeria, which was the focus of the fhi360 Alive and Thrive Project.
The senior technical adviser for Training and Capacity Building at fhi360 and Alive and Thrive, Gloria Eneh, disclosed this yesterday in her paper presentation outlining some of the achievements of the NGO alongside partners such as nutrition initiatives to save lives, prevention of illness, and improving the health and well-being of mothers, children, and adolescents not only in Maiduguri but also in the other nine LGAs of the state.
Eneh said they have successfully produced and distributed more than 24,000 maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Nigeria (MIYCN) job aids and have sensitised over 15 media practitioners in print, television, and radio in MIYCN reporting and advocacy.
She commended the Borno State Ministry of Health, State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Borno State Ministry of Budget and Planning, NAFDAC, UNICEF, and Community Base NgOs for their support in achieving success.
“Alive and Thrive is a global initiative to save lives, prevent illness, and improve the health and well-being of mothers, children, and adolescents by using evidence-based approaches in collaboration with government and other partners at global, regional, national, and community levels,” Eneh said.
She said that in the local government areas of the state, the nutrition program has drastically reduced malnutrition, including Bama, Bayo, Hawul, Biu, Jere, Kaga, Konduga, Mobbar, and Magumeri.
The Director of Community and Family Healthcare Services of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Abdulwahab Mala, who represented the executive secretary of the board, Prof. Mohammed Arab, commended fhi360, Alive, and Thrive for their overwhelming support in preventing acute malnutrition not only in Maiduguri but in nine other LGAs despite the challenges of insecurity, and urged them to include the other 17 local government areas of the state in their next project.
He partners praised fhi360 for its crucial role in addressing maternal and child nutrition issues in Nigeria, detailing structured programs aimed at improving health issues in the community.
Fati Ali, Director Disease Control and Immunisation, also from the state primary healthcare development board, appreciated fhi360 and Alive and Thrive for giving Borno State the ownership to implement their activities.
Earlier in his opening remark, the permanent secretary of the Borno State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Dr Solomon Peter, who is also the chairman of the Borno State Committee on Food and Nutrition, expressed gratitude for the support provided by fhi360 and Alive and Thrive in MIYCN.
As the project wraps up, they emphasise the need for continued investment in health initiatives for fostering a healthier future for all.
