The Government of Kebbi State has reiterated its unwavering support for the advancement and enhancement of Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices in order to mitigate the prevalent malnutrition rates in the region.
During the culmination of the State Training of Trainers on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition Course, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) and the World Bank, the State Commissioner of Health, Comrade Yunusa Musa Isma’il, delivered this affirmation on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.
However, distributed 30,000 Units of RUTF.
Expressing dismay at the misappropriation of the initial shipment of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) by healthcare workers in the state, Honorable Yunusa Musa Jibrin warned of disciplinary measures against any personnel engaged in such actions, deeming it inhumane.
He lamented that Kebbi State’s status as the state with the highest incidence of malnutrition cases, including stunted and wasted children, the Commissioner vowed to combat this issue comprehensively.
The government has procured thirty thousand units of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for dissemination to all healthcare facilities across the state.
The commitment was made to continue supporting the Federal Government by providing essential resources to combat malnutrition and enhance Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition practices among the populace of Kebbi State.
Applauding the Federal Government, particularly the Federal Ministry of Health, Hon. Yunusa Isma’il emphasized the significance of the assembled team from Abuja and the facilitators, underscoring the gravity of the malnutrition challenge.
He urged the pediatric doctors and other professionals to prioritize counseling sessions to educate their clients on the benefits of utilizing locally available food to bolster nutrition.
Encouraging participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training, as they will serve as advocates for Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition practices at the grassroots level, the Commissioner emphasized the importance of promoting local foods such as groundnuts and bambara nuts.
Despite medical advice to remain indoors, he deemed it essential to attend and address the closing ceremony due to the paramount importance he places on the Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition Course.
In her remarks, the Kebbi State Nutrition Officer, Eunice Erey Dabai, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for the successful course and urged participants to diligently apply the acquired knowledge as ambassadors for Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition practices at the grassroots level.
Participants were reminded by the State Nutrition Officer to reflect on the distressing cases of malnutrition witnessed during the facility visits conducted as part of the food demonstration and counseling mission.
Following are in attendees: Commrade Haruna Abdullahi Kangiwa, Chairman of the Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Junaidu Halliru, Director of Immunization and Disease Control, Bello Hamza Sani, State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Jibril Labbo Gwandu, Director of Medical Services, and Bala Isah Kamba, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Kebbi State Ministry of Health.
As a symbolic gesture of commitment to enhancing Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) in Nigeria, all stakeholders, including the Hon. Commissioner of Health, Commrade Hon. Yunusa Musa Isma’il, signed a registry at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Well organized and interested