By Tina George, Minna
Nutrition focal persons from 18 local government areas of Niger state, have advocated for the inclusion of nutrition indicators in the registers of patients in primary healthcare centers across the state.
These observations were made during the one-day meeting on the need for inclusion, update and delivery of the minimum nutrition service package in PHCs in Minna on Saturday.
It was organized by the CS-SUNN in collaboration with the National and State Primary Healthcare Development Agencies.
The focal persons frowned at the under-reporting of nutrition activities in PHCs; opining that capturing indicators in registers would ease reportage.
The Niger state Nutrition Officer, Hajiya Asmau Mohammed noted that nutrition services are still battling identification in health facilities across the state.
According to her, the service delivery in nutrition in the health centres remained low, stressing the need to change the narratives.
Mohammed noted that the consumption of a healthy and adequate diet could provide the nutritional needs of an individual throughout the life cycle from the womb to the tomb.
She stated that all is being done to integrate the minimum package for nutrition in primary health care centres in the state.
Speaking on behalf of CS-SUNN, Project Assistant PINNS, Mr Kunle Ishola said that the objectives of the meeting were to discuss the minimum service package as a basis for improved nutritional status through a life cycle approach and to guide the investment of stakeholders.
He also emphasized on the need for the inclusion of the minimum nutrition service package in health centres in the country, to reduce nutritional problems in children and adults.
The participants were taught on how to use the MUAC tape to take adequate measurement of children to check their nutritional status.
Participants also made inputs on the level of the implementation of the nutrition package in the local government PHCs.
