Kano State Targets 1.5 Million Women for Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation

The Kano State Government has announced a significant initiative to target 1.5 million women with multiple micronutrient supplementation. This ambitious project is part of the World Bank-assisted initiative known as Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN).

Dr. Umar Yahuza, the Project Coordinator for ANRiN in Kano, shared this information while interacting with newsmen at one of the training centers for healthcare personnel drawn from the 484 wards in Kano. Dr. Yahuza highlighted the scale of this intervention, emphasizing that such a massive effort is happening for the first time across the state.

Dr Umar Yahuza at Niimah Guest Palace one of the centers for the training

“This is the first time something massive like this is happening across the state. We intend to train over one thousand healthcare personnel,” Dr. Yahuza stated. He explained that the training is designed to respond to the identified challenges of stunted growth and malnutrition among women and children.

Stunting, a condition often resulting from chronic malnutrition, is a significant concern in Kano State. Dr. Yahuza pointed out that the increase in stunting rates can be attributed to other states’ refusal to implement similar nutritional interventions. However, he praised the Kano State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for its proactive approach and commitment to addressing these nutritional challenges.

“The Kano government under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has done well,” Dr. Yahuza remarked, acknowledging the state’s efforts in improving nutritional outcomes.

The ANRiN project aims to provide preventive nutrition services to a teeming population of pregnant and lactating mothers. The training of healthcare personnel is a critical component of this initiative, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver effective nutrition services at the grassroots level.

As part of the project’s implementation, healthcare personnel from various health facilities in Kano, including medical doctors and dieticians, are being trained. The training covers essential aspects of nutrition and aims to enhance the capacity of healthcare workers to combat malnutrition and promote healthy growth among women and children.

The success of this initiative is expected to significantly impact the health and well-being of women and children in Kano State, ensuring that they receive the necessary micronutrients to support their growth and development.
One of the participants and a health worker, Nusaiba Garba, said she has learned a lot, including how to educate pregnant and lactating mothers on positioning during breastfeeding and how to relate well with patients.

Another beneficiary, Usman Balarabe Usman from Kibiya , said there are many things he learned from the training, things that he previously did not take as seriously but are very important in managing pregnant and lactating mothers, including how to welcome a patient.

Usman Balarabe Usman ,one of the participants from Kibiya