By Umar Dankano, Yola
A new intervention initiative (project) meant to improve maternal and child nutrition within the first 1,000 days of a child’ s life has been unveiled in Adamawa state.
The state government in partnership with Unicef and Global Affairs Canada launched the project in Yola on Tuesday which is expected to strengthen health care delivery for pregnant women, newborns, and infants across the state through preventive and community-based healthcare interventions
Executive chairman of the Adamawa state Primary Health Care Development Agency,ADSPHCDA.Dr.Suleiman Sai’du Bashir at the launching explained that the initiative was meant to improve child survival and healthy development in the state.
Dr.Bashir said that the project offers an opportunity for essential support and humanitarian action for children project and focuses on the period from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday.
Bashir emphasizes that the program is designed to improve the health and survival of children while ensuring they grow and develop optimally.
“This afternoon we had an inception meeting on a new project supported by Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with UNICEF. It is aimed at targeting the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to childbirth and up to the second birthday of the child,” he said.
“It is to nourish, to grow and to thrive. That is the theme of the project,” he added.
He assured that the intervention attracts preventive healthcare with high – impact low cost considerations capable of reaching communities in the state noting that,the state government would play a central role in sustaining the initiative through the provision of human, financial, and material resources, while development partners would support the initial implementation phase.
“The whole essence of the project is to initiate a strategic response and the state will sustain it. It is result-oriented, feasible and will be sustained,” he stated.
Dr. Bashir further disclosed that although the project is expected to run for two years initially, its target population covers the entire state, in line with the government’s inclusive healthcare policy.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief of Unicef Bauchi field office,Dr. Nuzhat Rafique said that the project would concentrate on antenatal care,maternal health, nutrition counseling, exclusive breastfeeding, birth registration,vaccination and child protection.
Rafique, said the first 1,000 days of a child’s life remain the most critical stage for physical and mental development noting that proper nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months are key to preventing malnutrition, infections, and childhood diseases.
“At the time of conception, the mother needs to be healthy during pregnancy. When the child is born, all the rights of the child, including vaccination, nutrition and protection, must be ensured,” she said.
“If breastfeeding is not exclusive and feeding practices are poor, the child becomes sick repeatedly and may fall into malnutrition,” she explained.
She added that UNICEF and partners are optimistic that strengthening healthcare delivery systems for mothers and infants would significantly improve child nutrition outcomes in the state.
According to her, for effective and efficient service, monitoring committees have been floated for checks to prevent misuse and diversion of supplies for the project across the state.
Our Correspondent reported that the project has a two year duration.
