From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
A Non governmental organization known as Nutrition International (NI) with support from Jigawa state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, concluded arrangements to integrates MASAKI health program and reduce maternal death and promote Anti-Natal Care in Jigawa state.
The Country Director, Nutrition International, Dr. Osita who was represented by Senior Program Officer Ajodele Gbemileke stated this while delivering her speech at a one day stakeholder’s engagement meeting, held at Manpower Development Institute (MDI), Dutse.
According to him, NI remains committed to supporting Jigawa State in strengthening maternal and child nutrition adding that the meeting gathered all BCI stakeholders from Buji and Birnin Kudu local governments area.
The stakeholders, that involves religious, traditional Leaders, health workers from the grassroots communities, developed a roadmap of action to achieve the desired goals which centered in Behavioral Change Intervention (BCI).
Some of the strategies adopted during the meeting to achieve BCI by the participants include, community engagement and sensitization on the importance of Anti-Natal Care attendance and improve adherence to daily intake of Iron–Folic Acid and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) among pregnant women.
“Our goal is to ensure that pregnant women develop habit of attending regular ANC, consistent use of required supplements as prescribed. This is critical to improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing complications during the delivery,” he said.
While delivering his speech at the meeting, the State Nutrition Officer, Muhammed Abdullahi commended Nutrition International for supporting Jigawa in fight against malnutrition and maternal child mortality.
He said the Masaki platform, which already has wide community reach, provides an ideal avenue to connect with women and children—the core targets of the nutrition programme.
The State Nutrition Officer explained that, under the pilot arrangement, Nutrition International, in collaboration with the Jigawa State Government, will train 240 frontline ANC health workers across four clusters—Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia and Kazaure. The training will focus on Maternal Nutrition Services (MNS), with the aim of reducing maternal deaths and morbidity in the state.
He stressed that the health workers will undergo training that meets international standards to ensure quality service delivery and sustainability of the programme.
