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Health

NGO to train Bauchi women on malnutrition

NGO to train Bauchi women on malnutrition
By Amina Ahmed
Malnutrition
Bauchi, July 16, 2018 (NAN) A Bauchi-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), called Women, Children and Youth Health and Education Initiative, has promised to train mothers in the state on the symptoms of acute malnutrition.
Dr Halima Muqadas, the Chief Executive Director and Founder of the NGO, made the promise on Monday when the organisation visited the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Health.
Muqadas said that the initiative was designed to reduce the rampant cases of stunted growth in children.
She said that the state ranked among states of the federation with high statistics on stunted growth in children.
She said that mothers required first hand knowledge that could help them to identify the phenomenon and ensure timely visit to health facilities for treatment.
She said that the NGO had articulated some health programmes, which would commence soon in the state.
Muqadas said: “Already, we have lined up 2018 programmes, comprising educating mothers on identifying acute malnutrition in children before accessing healthcare and exclusive breastfeeding.
“Others are sanitation, hygiene, women empowerment and adult education.”
She further said that the NGO would partner the Ministry for Women Affairs in identifying participants to be trained and mentored on different skills.
Responding, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs Rukaiya Kewa, underscored the benefits of skills acquisition among women.
Kewa said that training women in different skills would help to equip them to become self-reliant and managers of their businesses.
“The Bauchi state government has trained many women in various trades.
“We are exploring ways to add value to their products to make them competitive in the market,’’ she said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Zuwaira Hassan, commended the NGO for its health initiatives aimed at complementing the health agenda of the present administration.
She assured the group of the ministry’s support and collaboration to ensure that the sate became disease-free. (NAN)
AE/USO/MST
Edited by Sam Oditah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Malnutrition: Jigawa Govt begins preparation of local therapeutic food

Malnutrition: Jigawa Govt begins preparation of local therapeutic food
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Solution
Jahun (Jigawa), July 11, 2018 (NAN) The Jigawa Government has commenced local preparation of Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) to fight malnutrition among children in the state.
RUTF is an energy dense, micro nutrient enhanced paste, used in therapeutic feeding.
The typical primary ingredients for RUTF include Peanuts, oil, sugar, milk powder, vitamin and mineral supplements which provide all the nutrients required for recovery.
Dr Kabir Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (JGSPHCDA), made this known while flagging off the initiative on Dambutawa village of Jahun Local Government Area.
“This is a special intervention aimed at addressing child malnutrition at community level.
“The North has been seen to record very high level of malnutrition, probably leading the whole country.
“So we are trying to look for solution prepared with locally sourced raw materials,’’ Kabir said.
According to him, 36 women are selected from three communities and trained on how to prepare the solution using locally sourced raw materials.
“12 women were selected from each of the three pilot communities and trained on how to prepare the solution locally.
“It is our hope that the technical skills they received during the training will enable them to ensure that as malnutrition starts at the community level, it is addressed at the community level using their local resources.
“The major idea of this initiative is that women are taught how to identify and measure malnourished children, provide appropriate intervention as well as evaluate the performance of their children over a period of time.
“It is also to enable the women prepare the solution without waiting for any foreign material from outside their respective communities,’’ the executive secretary said.
According to him, the women are expected to step down the training to other women in their respective communities.
“The initiative will be extended to all communities across the 27 local government areas of the state.
“We are hopeful that the gesture will be appreciated worldwide, as the federal government is fully aware of the initiative.
“Also, we urge all husbands to see feeding of their children as God-given duty; we are also urging families to assist one another,’’ Ibrahim pleaded.
Earlier, the state Director of Primary Healthcare Development, Dr Ibrahim Sambo, said the gesture would ease the difficulties mothers encounter while going to health facilities to obtain the solution.
“All they need to prepare this solution is millet, soya beans and groundnut which are readily available in their respective communities.
“The last time we tested children here, out of 500, 60 were found to be severely malnourished; so this initiative will go a long way in reducing the number of malnourished children in the area and the state in general,’’ Sambo said.
Also, the Chairman of Jahun Local Government Council, Alhaji Saidu Abdu, commended the state government for the initiative.
He said the initiative had assisted in stemming the menace of child malnutrition in the area.
Abdu pledged the council’s continued support toward the full implementation and sustenance of the program.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council donated sacks of millet, soya beans, groundnut and other items for the commencement of the programme. (NAN)
MNB/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Dangote Foundation partners GBCHealth to fight malnutrition, malaria

Dangote Foundation partners GBCHealth to fight malnutrition, malaria
NAN-HG-5
Dangote
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Sept. 19, 2017 (NAN) The Chairman of Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, had revealed plans to build an African Business Coalition on Health (ABCHealth) in collaboration with GBCHealth to fight malnutrition and malaria in the continent.
Mr Anthony Chiejina, Dangote Group’s Chief Corporate Communication Officer, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Chiejina explained that the chairman of the group made the disclosure during the Bloomberg Global Business Forum he was co-hosting which took place in a side event of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He quoted Dangote as saying that the African-led coalition of companies and philanthropists will seek to improve the health and well-being of Africans, both within the workplace and the border communities.
“The partnership will develop and deploy impactful health programmes across Africa, deepening knowledge, building evidence for future investment and strengthening co-ordination among African philanthropists, business leaders, companies and local business networks.
“The Coalition is building on the leadership, reputation and convening power of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the experience, reputation and global reach of GBCHealth.
“The critical issues that will be the focus of the partnership ranges from nutrition to malaria, with priorities identified and agreed by local leadership,” he said.
According to him, through his foundation, Dangote had made an unprecedented grant and seed contribution to GBCHealth of US$ 1.5 million over three years.
He said that this step was a call to action and a signal to the African business community of the importance of working together and investing in health.
The communication officer stated that Dangote made it clear at the event that time was ripe for the private sector to pro-actively demonstrate its value in partnering to lead a new era in development.
He noted that the richest man in Africa stated that the coalition can provide much needed guidance to ensure activities and investments are driving results in areas where the private sector can have real impact, focusing on holistic and integrated solutions that cross borders.
Chiejina said that Dangote announced that he was looking forward to working with other business leaders as partners in development to drive this impact.
According to the spokesperson, the Co-chair of GBCHealth’s Board of Directors, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said that “the coalition brought together two heavyweights in the health and development arena”.
“Together we have an opportunity to demonstrate how investing in health and creating healthier populations can help business maximise shareholder value, accelerate economic growth and make entry into new markets more feasible.
“The coalition will have five primary objectives over its first three years: incubate partnerships on priority health programmes to enhance and accelerate results; work directly with companies to optimise workplace and community health programmes.
“Advocate for policies and initiatives that drive system-level changes; create a hub of data and insights specific to Africa and African business;
“Create leadership events to convene and drive action around common health issues, across sectors,” he said.
He said that Aig-Imoukhuede announced that the programme would kick off in Nigeria and roll out through business regions in Africa and beyond over the next three years. (NAN)
MS/AAB/MST
Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Kaduna Govt trains health workers to eradicate malnutrition

Kaduna Govt trains health workers to eradicate malnutrition

NAN-HG-5
Malnutrition
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), May 16, 2017 (NAN) The Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) has commenced train-the-trainer programme to eradicate malnutrition in the state, an official has said.

Hajiya Ummi El-Rufa’i, wife to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, disclosed this at the flag-off of the training programme for some selected health personnel in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is entitled: “Training on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition: Training of Trainers (TOT)”.

The governor’s wife, who was represented by Alhaji Shehu Usman-Muhammad, a member of KADENAP, said the workshop was aimed at improving the quality of health workers’ service in the management of malnutrition.

“It is specifically organised to train-the-trainers for them to train others in their various local governments and zones.

“It provides an opportunity to bring participants together from all over the state and best 20 will be selected to become trainers in the management of malnutrition in primary and secondary facilities,” she said.

The governor’s wife said the personnel were drawn from state and federal health agencies and training institutions.

She identified management of malnutrition as a critical element toward ensuring healthy future generation.

The governor’s wife said she was motivated to be part of the crusade following a UNICEF study which showed high rate of malnutrition in the state.

She said both her and the governor saw the report and felt so bad.

“The children are malnourished not because of lack of food but because of ignorance, culture, food preparation and management.

“We took it upon ourselves to change the trend and to give a sense of hope to our future generation,” she said.

Hajiya Hauwwa Usman, Assistant State Nutrition Officer, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the workshop was meant to proffer solution to acute malnutrition.

She said at the end of the training they want to get trainers who would train others on malnutrition at Community Management Adequate Malnutrition centres at various local government levels across the state.

“We want to eradicate malnutrition in Kaduna State. To achieve that, we need to train our workers on how to go about the eradication process.

“It is through this kind of training that the health personnel will be trained for the benefit of others,” she said.

A cross section of participants interviewed by NAN expressed appreciation for the training and pledged to impart the knowledge acquired on others to achieve the set goals.

NAN reports that about 69 health personnel were selected from the 23 local government areas of the state. (NAN)

KLM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Save the Children wants religious leaders preach nutrition

Save the Children wants religious leaders preach nutrition

NAN-HG-4

Malnutrition

By Zubairu Idris

Kano, April 12, 2017 (NAN) Save the Children International, an NGO, has urged religious leaders to intensify preaching on the importance of nutrition as part of efforts to check malnutrition in the country.

Mr Ifedilichukwu Innocent, a nutrition expert in the organisation, made the call at a three-day workshop organised for reporters on Wednesday in Kano.

“Religious leaders have great roles to play in influencing attitude of their followers towards feeding their families with nutritious food during their preaching.

“I believe if they include this message in their sermons we will achieve a lot because we have most of the nutritious food produced locally,’’ he said.

He stressed the need for enlightening the religious leaders on the importance of nutrition as well as dangers associated with malnutrition.

Innocent said that malnutrition affects the child’s brain development, thereby preventing him from contributing positively to nation building.

“Whenever a child is malnourished, he will have low IQ and may be stunted, which can remain in him permanently,’’ he said.

He, therefore, stressed the need for feeding pregnant mothers with the right nutrition to have nourished mothers.

He also urged pregnant women to be attending ante-natal care for their good health and safe delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NGO is promoting children’s health, education and protection of children from abuse in about 120 countries in the world. (NAN)

ZI/DS/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Agriculture

UNICEF raises alarm over impending malnutrition, famine in Borno LGAs

 

NAN-AE-7

Malnutrition

By Tosin Kolade

Abuja, March 1, 2017 (NAN) The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday raised alarm over impending malnutrition and famine in some Local Government Areas in Borno.

 

Mr Kanaan Nadar, UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that insecurity and famine were part of the challenges being faced by the agency.

 

He said UNICEF was supporting the state government to have a coordinated response to humanitarian needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), saying a large number of them lacked basic needs.

 

“UNICEF is supporting the state government to have a coordinated response, the challenge has been security, because it affects accessing some of those communities in Borno to provide basic needs.

 

“A high number of LGAs in Borno are in need of food emergency in the southern parts, a lot are facing food emergency and are at risk of famine.’’

 

According to him, UNICEF is the co- chair of emergency response group with the ministry of Water Resources.

 

He said the agency was also supporting IDPs eagerness to return to their various communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

 

According to him, emergency response in humanitarian situations in the North East is a necessary step toward meeting the needs of increasing IDPs in these states.

 

He said in 2016, the agency drew a humanitarian response plan for Nigeria, which had identified that 3.6 million people were in need of WASH response.

 

“The plan for 2017 will target two million persons, which include those in areas of return and IDPs living in communities, the total value of the response is 49.7 million dollars.”

 

He said in the past, there was the challenge of uncoordinated response, adding that presently, no fewer than 15 NGO partners had been working in various parts of Borno and neighbouring states.

 

He said the WASH emergency working group in Borno was prioritising LGAs for WASH interventions, health and nutrition, adding that food insecurity led to malnutrition and lack of water aggravated the situation.

 

“We are also working to have an integrated package in health centres, by responding to water supply, sanitation, hygiene promotion including provision of hygiene kits.

 

“Many times, you find out that IDPs do not have anything, so we provide them with buckets, and water purification chemicals, among others.’’ (NAN)

TAK/GOM/EEE

===========

Editerd by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Ese E. Ekama
 

Health

Malnutrition: NGO urges timely release of nutritional funds

Malnutrition: NGO urges timely release of nutritional funds

NAN-HG-8

Funding

By Awayi Kuje

Karu (Nasarawa State), Feb. 14, 2017 (NAN) The Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition (CS-SUNN), an NGO, has urged government at all levels to ensure timely release of funds for nutritional activities in order to combat malnutrition among children.

The Project Director of the organisation, Dr Beatrice Eluaka, made the call on Tuesday in Karu, Nasarawa State, during a one-day capacity building.

The training was organised for the Nasarawa state members of the Committee on Food and Nutrition in Karu Local Government Area.

Eluaka said that timely release of fund would not only tackle the menace of malnutrition but would also improve on the standard of living of the people especially women and children for the country’s development.

“The training is aimed at advocating the need to stimulate community to scale up nutrition with specific focus on maternal and child nutrition in Nasarawa state and other parts of the country.

“I want to use this medium to call for strong collaboration between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), development partners and government agencies to fight malnutrition in the society.

“This is because malnutrition is a development issue in which we need to address its holistically.

“So, what I am saying now is that no one sector alone can address the issue of malnutrition, hence the need for collaboration,” she said.

Eluaka, however, noted that malnutrition-related death among children under-age of five is uncalled for.

She added that there was the need to improve on balanced diet for children so as to improve on their standard of living.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Muazu Adamu, said that the training workshop was to improve on collaboration among ministries, NGOs intervening on nutrition and the state committee on nutrition.

Adamu, who was represented by Mr Abdul Osama, the ministry’s Director of Planning, assured the state government’s commitment towards curtailing malnutrition in the state.

Osama, who is the Secretary of the state committee on Food and Nutrition, said: “I want to assure this committee and the CS-SUNN that a lot has been done by the state in 2016.

“And we are going to do more in 2017 in order to improve on the nutrition of children in the state,” he said.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to continue to key into positive policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of children and women in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop brought together nutritional focal persons in all the local government areas of the state.

Others were members of the state committee on food and nutrition of various ministries, departments, agencies, NGOs and CSOs, among others. (NAN)

AKW/JEO/MST

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NGO raises alarm over “severe acute malnutrition” in Katsina

NGO raises alarm over “severe acute malnutrition” in Katsina

NAN-HG-10
Malnutrition
By Zubairu Idris

Katsina, Jan. 9, 2017 (NAN) An NGO, Save the Children, says that Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with its complication has killed many children in Katsina State due to non-release of Nutrition Support Funds by some local governments.

Mr Nura Muhammad, the NGO’s Area Operations Manager, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Katsina.

He said that Save the Children and UNICEF support children with malnutrition in 109 Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres in 15 local government areas of the state.

Muhammad revealed that each of the benefiting local government was expected to contribute N250,000 for the purchase of drugs to children with SAM complications monthly.

He explained that a malnourished child with other sickness would be admitted at a CMAM centre to cure that particular ailment first for three-to-five days.

According to him, the child would then be given the Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for eight to 12 weeks depending on weight of the child.

“If a child is sick and malnourished, it is hard for him to take food, so, we try to cure his ailment before giving him the RUTF.

“We do not have drugs for such children; we only give them RUTF.

“ However, since July 2016, no money has been released by any of the 15 local councils for that project; consequently, many children have died because of the non release of the funds,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Save the Children is an international NGO seeking to promote children’s rights, provides reliefs and supports children in developing countries.

Katsina state is rated as the second with highest number of malnourished children in the Northwest zone.

The malnutrition programme was introduced in 2010 and 318,689 children have so far been treated in the state. (NAN)

ZI/SUD/VIV/MST

Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola