The Kogi State Government has taken a decisive step in the fight against malnutrition, initiating treatment protocols for affected individuals and expanding healthcare coverage for children with co-morbidities.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, speaking through his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Ali Bello, at the launch of a training programme on the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) in Lokoja, reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving child nutrition across the state.
He revealed that the state’s Health Insurance Agency has been directed to cover all expenses for malnourished children who present at referral centres with additional medical complications.
He further called on community stakeholders to raise awareness and mobilise residents to access available health services, particularly for children aged six to fifty-nine months.
Also speaking at the event, the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, highlighted the importance of the training, noting that it is designed to improve the capacity of healthcare workers to manage acute malnutrition effectively.
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He encouraged participants to put the knowledge gained into practice within their respective communities and healthcare facilities.
Dr. Olayemi Ayo, Chief Medical Director of the Kogi State Hospital Management Board, echoed the call for commitment and diligence from the trainees, stressing that their efforts would play a significant role in improving the nutritional outcomes for both children and women in the state.
Participants at the training, including Dr. Grace Afolabi, the Kogi State Reproductive Health Coordinator, and Dr. Abubakar Alhassan, Director of Medical Services and Training at the Hospital Management Board, expressed optimism about the initiative.
They described the training as a critical step in the state’s effort to tackle malnutrition and improve public health outcomes.
