By Uzairu Dauda:
The Bauchi State Government has pledged to sustain and expand the maternal and child nutrition interventions initiated by Alive & Thrive, an initiative of FHI360, following the closeout of its Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) project in the state.
The commitment was made by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Muhammad Dambam, during the official closeout ceremony of the project in Bauchi. He praised the impact of the initiative, which has contributed significantly to reducing maternal and child mortality through improved nutrition.
Dr. Dambam emphasized that the state government will continue to procure and distribute MMS tablets to pregnant women across Bauchi, recognizing their vital role in ensuring safer pregnancies and healthier births. He further disclosed plans to increase the health sector’s budget allocation in alignment with the governor’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare.
“A people-centered health system, particularly in the area of nutrition, where communities take ownership, is key to sustaining quality healthcare delivery in Bauchi State,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA), Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, highlighted the importance of maternal and child nutrition as a critical pillar of human capital development. He noted that thousands of pregnant women have already benefited from the MMS intervention, which helps reduce maternal anaemia, low birth weight, and other complications.
“The Alive & Thrive project has empowered mothers and caregivers with the knowledge and confidence to practice exclusive breastfeeding, introduce complementary foods at the right time, and continue breastfeeding up to two years. These practices have significantly reduced child malnutrition and mortality while supporting cognitive development,” Dr. Muhammad stated.
He pledged to mainstream MIYCN and MMS interventions into the state’s primary healthcare system to ensure continuity and long-term benefits for all mothers and children, even after the project’s end.
Dr. Muhammad also called for increased nutrition financing in the state budget to help eradicate severe acute malnutrition and stunting, especially in rural communities.
Representing the Country Director of Alive & Thrive, Dr. Victor Ogbodo, the Senior Technical Advisor for Maternal Nutrition, Dr. James Oloyede, appreciated the warm reception, collaboration, and unwavering support from the Bauchi State Government and communities.
He noted that since its scale-up in 2022, the project has improved access to high-quality diets for women and children, effectively addressing malnutrition and promoting healthier outcomes.
The State Coordinator of the Alive & Thrive project, Mr. Chidiebere Asimoji, shared some of the project’s achievements, including the training of 174 health workers, 57 BSPHCB staff, and 323 community volunteers across all 20 Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.
He added that the project also donated 50 smartphones to strengthen data collection in six LGAs, and trained 45 civil society organizations to support anemia prevention and monitor maternal nutrition services.
Asimoji revealed that, the interventions have have reached 493,799 people including 78,309 adolescent girls, 68,293 women, and 151,737 men through door-to-door awareness campaigns on MIYCN and maternal nutrition.
As the Alive & Thrive project comes to a close, stakeholders expressed optimism that the state’s commitment will ensure the sustainability of these vital health gains for years to come.
