By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Towards enhancing Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding Nutrition (MIYCN) in Bauchi State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded intervention titled Alive and Thrive fhi360, has donated items worth millions of Naira to Bauchi State Government for the equipping of a Center of Excellence to promote Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding Nutrition (MIYCN).
The donation of the items was made on Wednesday 13th December 2023, by the project director of Alive and Thrive fhi 360 Dr. Victor Ogbodo at a meeting that was held at Yimir Hotel Bauchi.
Dr. Ogbodo said that items donated will strengthen and accelerate the utilization of the Center and also for Strengthen MIYCN access in Bauchi state.
The Director said that by the time the Centre takes off fully, the issue of MIYCN in Nigeria will not be complete without referring to the Bauchi Centre considering that it is well equipped.
According to him, the goal of the Center of Excellence is provide leadership, research and development, as well as establishing best practices in effective and efficient healthcare service delivery.
He then called on the State to put the Center to effective use in order to reduce issues of malnutrition among children and young children in the state.
While receiving the equipment, State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Sambo commended Alive and Thrive fhi360 for the gesture saying that it was timely as the State is fighting issues of malnutrition in the state.
He then assured that the Centre will be effectively and efficiently utilised for the purpose it was meant for adding that the government would do everything possible to maintain the standard of the Centre.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ali Babayo, the Commissioner called on the residents of Durum where the centre is located to let their children access in order to improve their nutrition intake.