Alive & Thrive FHI360 have been lauded for her effort and support to Bauchi State Government in developing a costed implementation plan for Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), which is expected to enhance maternal health and ensure safe deliveries.
The 4-day development workshop for the MMS costed implementation plan was held in Jos, Plateau State, brought together different stakeholders to deliberate on key issues, generate innovative ideas, and collaboratively develop actionable work plans for effective implementation in the state.
The State Team Lead of Alive & Thrive FHI 360 stated, “As part of our mandate, we’ve been collaborating with the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board to enhance PHC services, focusing on nutrition. Specifically, we’ve implemented various interventions to boost MMS uptake and acceptance through multiple communication channels.”
According to Mr. Asimobi Chidiebere, State Coordinator of Alive & Thrive FHI360, the project has implemented a range of activities to boost MMS uptake in the state. These include capacity building of HCWs, Media and Material development, radio broadcasts, and Demand Generation at the communities which are all designed to inform caregivers, husbands, and community members about the advantages of MMS for Pregnant women.
The State Coordinator of Alive & Thrive FHI 360 in Bauchi revealed that the organization involved Bauchi in the material development process, where the state represented the North East region in a development workshop held in Suleja Niger State. This ensured that the MMS materials were developed with community ownership and tailored to reflect local norms and values.
He also noted that they trained two State program officers as National master trainers, in line with the national requirement that each state have two technical training officers. These master trainers are expected to provide skills and knowledge to other key stakeholders, supporting the effective implementation of MMS across the state.
He appreciated the participation of the Bauchi State House of Assembly’s Health Committee and Food Security and Nutrition Committee Chairmen, noting that despite their busy schedules, they were able to participate to the development of the MMS implementation costed plan.
Mr. Chidiebere then called on the Bauchi State Assembly to provide legislative backings for the MMS costed plan by allocating funds in the budget process. He emphasized that this would enable pregnant women to access the essential commodities in health facilities across the state, significantly improving their care.
In his remarks, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board, emphasized that developing a costed work plan for MMS is crucial in reducing maternal mortality among pregnant women.
Dr. Mohammed highlighted that many women suffer from pregnancy complications due to inadequate nutrition, which can lead to mortality. He emphasized that introducing MMS for pregnant women would be a significant benefit to mothers, improving their health outcomes and reducing mortality risks.
The Executive Chairman noted that the MMS costed implementation work plan, developed with support from Alive & Thrive and UNICEF, marks a significant step in complementing Nutrition International’s research project on MMS adherence in Dass, Ganjuwa, and Giade LGAs.
Participants included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), other health-related MDAs, and development partners.
