With the Alive & Thrive nutrition initiative set to end its intervention in Kaduna by 31 August, stakeholders have convened to chart a sustainable path for the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) campaign and the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS).
Their mission aim to formulate a locally driven, sustainable strategy that preserves the gains of the MIYCN and MMS campaigns after donor support winds down.
The Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB), Dr Bello Jamoh, represented by Hamza Ikara, emphasised the importance of building the plan on available local resources.
He warned that poor planning could derail the progress already achieved, urging LGAs to document and submit information on locally produced resources to the State Nutrition Officer.
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He noted that this data will inform a cost-effective strategy that aligns with state and community realities.
State Nutrition Officer, Ramatu Haruna explained that the gathering aimed to consolidate experiences, document challenges, and co-create a workable sustainability framework.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the gains made through the Alive and Thrive project are sustained and not lost,” she said.
Coordinator of Alive & Thrive in Kaduna, Mrs Sarah Kwasu, said the initiative had shifted focus towards boosting MMS uptake and had trained NFPs, SNOs, and community volunteers to deliver nutrition services.
With the end of funding approaching, she stressed that “ownership and continuous support from the state and local governments were crucial for the sustainability of the MMS intervention.”
The sustainability plan, she said, would focus on advocacy, behavioural change communication, community mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation, and integration with existing service delivery platforms.
NFP of Makarfi LGA, Nafisa Yusuf, said efforts were underway to engage the LGA Chairman and existing volunteers to maintain momentum.
“We plan to expand the initiative to facilities that haven’t been trained yet,” she added.
HMIS Officer from Kachia, Blessing Amodu, pledged to cascade the training to her LGA’s health personnel, while Igabi LGA M&E Officer, Shehu Umar, underscored the value of accurate data in sustaining progress.
“Proper documentation would not only guide decision-making but also improve the quality of services in LGAs and the overall health sector,” he said.
The meeting, held in Kaduna, brought together Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officers, and Health Management Information System (HMIS) Officers from all 23 local government areas.
