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

Former Military Governor of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, Major General Godwin Osagie Abbe, has passed away. He was 75.

Abbe served as the Military Governor of both Akwa Ibom State from 1988 to 1990, and River State from 1990 to 1992. He also held the position of Minister of Interior under President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration where he was later redeployed to the ministry of defence

He died in Abuja on Saturday after a long illness.

His academic achievements include a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University and attendance at the United States Army Infantry School, the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.

He rose through the ranks to become the General Officer Commanding of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, and commanded both the Training and Doctrine Command and the National War College.

Abbe retired in 1999 at the rank of Major General and subsequently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr. Umar Yahuza, the Project Coordinator for the World Bank-assisted initiative in Kano, known as Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), has announced the training of 1,000 healthcare personnel in a bid to provide preventive nutrition services to pregnant and lactating mothers.

During a workshop held for the training of healthcare workers, Dr. Yahuza addressed newsmen, highlighting the significance of the ANRiN project, which is funded by the World Bank. He explained that the project aims to change behavior from the grassroots and reverse the negative trends of malnutrition.

Kano State has made significant progress in reducing severe stunting by 9 percent, a notable achievement that underscores the need for continued improvement. Dr. Yahuza emphasized that the N774 being used to train frontline healthcare workers was initially unstructured.

The journey began with MYCN facilitators in Kano and Lagos, followed by the training of a critical mass of facilitators. Subsequently, 120 healthcare professionals from various health facilities in Kano, including medical doctors and dieticians, were trained.

Currently, training is underway for 484 apex healthcare facilities in Kano. The training is being conducted at eight different points, with 60 healthcare workers being trained at each location, totaling 1,000 trained healthcare personnel under the MYCN initiative.

Dr. Yahuza expressed optimism about seeing an end to malnutrition in the region. He stated, “We are near to seeing an end to malnutrition. We are not late.”

One of the beneficiaries, Rahinatu Ado Ibrahim, shared her experience, saying, “We received capacity building, and there are available resources.”

The ANRiN project is designed to provide comprehensive support to healthcare workers, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to address malnutrition effectively. With continued efforts and collaboration, the project aims to improve the overall health and well-being of the population in Kano State.