The governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo has unveiled a program to train 10,000 health workers across the state as part of a broad initiative to combat acute malnutrition among children and vulnerable members of the population.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Ali Bello, during the official launch of the training of trainers on Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition on Monday, the governor reiterated his commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes through sustainable nutritional interventions.
According to him, the training forms part of a strategic effort to equip frontline health workers, community volunteers, storekeepers and other relevant personnel with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, treat, and prevent malnutrition in all parts of the state.
He said; “To deliver on our promises to improve the health of our children, this administration has invested heavily in nutrition and health interventions, including the purchase of therapeutic foods worth hundreds of millions of naira, which will be made available at all referral centres in the state.”
Announcing the approval of three IMAM Stabilisation Centres to handle severe cases in addition to the rollout of community-level outreach to identify and treat malnourished children across all local government areas in the state, the governor directed the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency to absorb the cost of treating children with co-morbidities who appear in referral centres.
Furthermore, he urged local government authorities, traditional rulers, religious institutions, and community-based organisations to support and mobilize their communities.
He emphasized that children aged six to 59 months should be the major target to access nutrition and healthcare services provided by the state government.
The governor added; “Other key interventions include the establishment of nutrition departments in all line ministries, budget provisions for nutrition programmes, and support for the training of over 10,000 women on homestead gardening with the distribution of improved seedlings and farming tools to boost food security.”
In his remark earlier at the six-day training, the Chief Medical Director of the Kogi State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Ayo Olayemi, said the step was crucial towards reversing poor nutrition indices.
According to him, malnutrition has remained a major challenge in the state despite previous investments in child health.
He stressed the urgent need for a paradigm shift, as championed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adams Abdulazeez, to ensure improved nutritional outcomes for children in the state.
