The Bauchi chapter of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) announced the recovery of 1,825 malnourished children in a span of six months, from May to November 2023.
Dabis Mwalike, the secretary of CS-SUNN, disclosed this during a press conference in Bauchi held to mark the organization’s 10th anniversary. She highlighted the collaborative efforts with other partners in implementing a program focusing on nutrition systems, which addressed various factors contributing to malnutrition in Bauchi.
During the initiative, 698 healthcare providers received training across all 20 local government areas of Bauchi, and 202 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) established food banks. These efforts resulted in the successful recovery of children under five years who were identified with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
However, challenges such as inadequate funding, limited scalability of interventions, and the absence of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in Bauchi, alongside referral complications, were highlighted by Mwalike.
CS-SUNN emphasized the need for increased support from local government councils to address negative perceptions and beliefs surrounding Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) among beneficiaries, health workers, and caregivers. The organization also stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of essential commodities and consumables in health facilities.
Despite facing financial constraints, CS-SUNN remains committed to its mission of educating, sensitizing, and counseling women on the significance of nutrition for both adults and children, with the aim of fostering positive change in societal norms.
