130 health workers trained on maternal, infant, young child nutrition in Niger

The World Bank, Accelerated Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Niger State government have organised a week-long training for frontline health workers drawn from 23 secondary health facilities across the state. The training was held in Suleja Local Council.

The training aimed to address nutrition cases in the state by equipping frontline health workers with basic knowledge and skills required for maternal, adolescent, infant, and young child nutrition.

Declaring the training open, the Member representing Paiko Constituency at the Niger State House of Assembly and Committee Chairman on Primary Health Care and Nutrition, Hon. Nasir Mohammed Paiko, stressed the importance of nutrition activities in the state.

He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training to reduce hospital incidences, adding that such efforts would serve as a recognized pharmacological approach to many illnesses.

Paiko stated, “As participants and stakeholders in this training, please don’t leave the knowledge here and go back home without any impact. We are relying on you to make an impact at the societal level.”

The lawmaker reiterated that the 2025 state budget would include increased funding to enhance nutrition activities in the state.

Earlier, the Project Manager of Accelerated Nutrition Results in Nigeria, Niger State, Shehu Mohammed Etsugaie, explained that the training was timely as the ANRIN project is nearing its conclusion. He stressed the need to have skilled personnel on the ground to continue ANRIN’s activities in providing basic nutrition services and offering nutrition counselling and education.

Etsugaie noted that malnutrition has no boundaries, saying, “It can occur to anybody. We need to train anybody who has something to do or say to promote the gospel of nutrition in Niger State.”

Speaking at the event, the Niger State Nutrition Officer at the Ministry of Primary Health Care, Hajiya Asmau Abubakar, applauded the Federal Ministry of Health, the Niger State government, and development partners for their unwavering support in hosting the training.

Abubakar revealed that 120 participants attended the training, drawn from 23 secondary health facilities across the state. She explained that they were carefully selected to promote counselling at various levels, including general hospitals, specialist hospitals, and institutions with in-house clinics, as well as among uniformed personnel.

Responding on behalf of the participants, the Managing Director of General Hospital Suleja, Dr. Adedogun Adebayo, appreciated the organisers.

He noted that this was the first time in the state’s history that all health personnel came together for robust discussions aimed at improving the state’s health sector. He assured that participants would implement what they had learned at their various facilities.

Highlights of the training included advocacy visits to the Emir of Suleja, Mallam Awal Ibrahim, food demonstration practicals, visits to secondary health facilities for hands-on experience, and the signing of public commitments by state officials and development partners.