CS-SUNN, UNICEF Assess Maternal, Child Nutrition Services in Kano PHCs

The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Kano State Chapter, has joined the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) High-Level Supervisory Team to assess the delivery of maternal and child nutrition services in selected primary healthcare facilities across the state.

The supervisory team visited Tudun Wada Primary Health Centre, Gwagwarwa Primary Health Centre and Gyadi Gyadi Primary Health Centre, where it evaluated service delivery and the uptake of maternal, newborn and child nutrition interventions.

The team observed that pregnant women in all the facilities were receiving and consuming Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), while Vitamin A supplements were available and properly stored.

The team also noted that antenatal and postnatal counselling sessions were being conducted regularly at the facilities, with health workers providing education on maternal and child nutrition as part of routine healthcare services.

The supervision exercise was carried out jointly by CS-SUNN, UNICEF, Senior Nutrition Officers from the Kano State Ministry of Health and members of the MNCHW High-Level Supervisory Team to strengthen service delivery and improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Speaking during the exercise, the CS-SUNN Kano State Coordinator, Salmanu Muhammad, urged healthcare providers to intensify awareness campaigns on adherence to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements and promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.

He also called for stronger community mobilisation to improve the uptake of MNCHW services and ensure uninterrupted supplies of MMS and Vitamin A at health facilities.

Muhammad said the findings of the supervision reflected encouraging progress in the distribution of MMS and the availability of Vitamin A supplements across the facilities, stressing that sustained supervision, advocacy and collaboration among government and development partners remained essential to improving maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition outcomes in Kano State.