Alive and Thrive, a famous global nutrition program, has united different groups to come up with a lasting plan to keep the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) campaign going and to promote the use of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in Kaduna State.
The groups involved included the LGA Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs), Monitoring and Evaluation Officers (M and E), and Health Management Information System (HMIS) officers.
They came across the 23 local government areas in the state to work together on a lasting plan to combat malnutrition. They focused on continuing the MIYCN campaign and increasing the distribution of micronutrient supplements.
This initiative also aims to ensure sustainability as Alive and Thrive concludes its implementation by August 31st.
During a workshop on Friday in Kaduna, Dr. Bello Jamoh, who is the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB), stressed the importance of having a sustainable plan that uses local resources.
Jamoh, who was represented by the board’s Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Hamza Ikara, mentioned that now is the perfect time to plan well, noting that bad planning can often lead to failure.
He noted that teamwork is necessary to create a strong plan that will get support from the government, partners, and communities.
Jamoh discussed the importance of improving health services in local communities. He highlighted the need to find cost-effective solutions and encouraged each Local Government Authority (LGA) to identify and keep track of local resources and what they can offer. He suggested that this information should be sent to the State Nutrition Officer so it can be organized and shared with the state council.
The State Nutrition Officer, Ramatu Haruna, said that the aim of the workshop is to create a solid plan for improving nutrition for mothers, infants, and young children.
She highlighted that the need for evaluating these efforts and ensuring that their impact is understood even after the conclusion of the Alive & Thrive program.
During her speech, she pointed out that progress often faces challenges, but overcoming these challenges can lead to better results in the future.
Musa mentioned, “Our main goal is to make sure that the advantages gained from the Alive and Thrive program are preserved and not lost.”
Mrs. Sarah Kwasu, the Coordinator of Alive and Thrive in Kaduna, highlighted that part of their mission is to support mothers and improve child and maternal health.
She noted that recently, there has been a stronger focus on promoting the use of special nutritional supplements for mothers.
Kwasu emphasized that Alive and Thrive has worked to empower community volunteers and local health workers.
She said that their efforts are aimed at ensuring that every expectant mother stays healthy and has a healthy baby.
The main goal is to develop a unique plan for each local government to promote sustainability, while also creating a unified approach at the state level.
“This plan is aimed at empowering local groups so they can continue the important work on their own, reducing their reliance on outside help,” Kwasu explained.
She emphasized that having local communities take ownership of the programs, with ongoing support from both state and local governments, is crucial for the long-term success of the initiative.
The primary objective is to ensure that the positive outcomes from the Alive and Thrive-led nutrition and health efforts continue even after initial funding comes to an end.
Kwasu also mentioned that the sustainability strategy is designed to build on the project’s achievements, maintain funding and commitment, and encourage local involvement in the program.
During a recent meeting, participants discussed an important initiative aimed at improving community health and nutrition. The focus of this plan includes several key actions: raising awareness, encouraging open communication among community members, getting people actively involved, changing social behaviors, and keeping track of progress to make sure everything is working as intended.
The plan is to build on the services that are already available in the community.
Nafisa Yusuf, who focuses on health matters in her community of Makarfi LGA, expressed her wish to seek assistance from the local government leader and to involve volunteers who are already active in the area. She hopes these volunteers will help the project sustain itself without depending on external support. Nafisa mentioned that these volunteers have previously undergone training through a program called Alive and Thrive, and she plans to offer further training for health workers based on their experiences.
She is dedicated to combating malnutrition in her region and enhancing health across the entire state. The initiative aims to train individuals in areas that have not yet received assistance, engage more community volunteers, and provide additional resources to health facilities to improve their services. The primary objective is to create a significant and lasting impact on nutrition for everyone in the community.
In a similar vein, Blessing Amodu, who is involved in health management in Kachia LGA, expressed her commitment to training health workers and program leaders in her region. She highlighted the critical nature of this training for ensuring the ongoing success of their health projects, particularly when external support is no longer available.
Furthermore, Shehu Umar, who monitors and evaluates health programs in Igabi LGA, emphasized the crucial role of data in planning and making informed decisions in health care. This data is essential for ensuring that programs are effective and align with the needs of the community.
During a recent gathering, community members participated had a conversation about an initiative to bolster nutrition in the state.
To ensure the long-term success of programs like the MMS initiative, Umar highlighted the importance of training health workers and nutrition officers on how to accurately record data.
He explained that keeping detailed and accurate records is crucial because it helps people make better decisions and improves the services offered in local communities and the overall health system.
“We plan to provide ongoing support and guidance to make sure that those providing services are up-to-date and using the right methods for recording information.
“This will help maintain the quality of the data we collect and, in turn, lead to better health outcomes.,” he said.
(NAN)
