ASHENEWS reports that the Nutrition International has scaled up the coverage of implementation from three to eight local government areas in Sokoto state.
The State Coordinator for Nutrition International, Oyedeji Ayobami, and the Implementing Partner for FACEPam Project Officer, Elizabeth Kassam stated this during a one-day Gender Responsive Behavior Change Intervention Project for stakeholders and journalists in Sokoto.
The project, which was initially in the three local government areas of Bodinga, Gwadabawa, and Sokoto South, is now scaled up to Wamakko, Denge-Shuni, Illela, Kware, and Sokoto North local government areas.
The project would target about 4,320 pregnant women in a month.
According to the State Coordinator, the scaling up was due to the success recorded previously by the outreach in the three local government areas in the state.
According to him, the additional five local government areas would be for another six months starting from November 2023 to April 2024.
“The gender-responsive BCI strategy is to be rolled out in Wamakko, Dange Shuni, Sokoto North, Illela, and Kware, while the Zinc LO-ORS BCI strategy will be implemented in 23 local government areas of Sokoto State.
“The programme is to increase knowledge among pregnant women and influence the benefits of attending at least four antenatals, starting with early pregnancy.
“It is also meant to increase knowledge among pregnant women and influencers of IFA and its benefits for the health of pregnant mothers and their infants, among others.”
Oyedeji explained that 10 primary health centres have been chosen in each of the eight local government areas across the state.
The Assistant Director of Reproductive Health, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Management Authority, Mairo Sharif assured the organization that the state Ministry of Health would continue to partner with Nutrition International in promoting the well-being of women and children in the state.
Buhari Tambuwal who spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Budget and Planning, said the ministry would continue to work with Nutrition International’s efforts to improve the nutrition status of pregnant women and children under five years old in the state
