By Andrew Haruna | The Bureau News
Bauchi State Government has expressed deep concern following the close-out of a critical three-year nutrition intervention project designed to combat child stunting and infant mortality in the state.
At the formal closing ceremony of the Acceleration of the Scale of Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (ASMIYCN) Project, the State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Dambam, announced that the government has approved the release of ₦300 million as counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund.
According to Dr. Dambam, this intervention remains a top priority given Bauchi’s troubling health indices. He noted that the government will not allow the end of the ASMIYCN project to create a vacuum in child healthcare delivery.
Project Impact and Appreciation
The ASMIYCN project, driven by Alive & Thrive in partnership with the Family Health Initiative, has played a pivotal role in improving maternal and child nutrition across Bauchi State.
The Commissioner and the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, jointly commended the project partners for their dedication and support. Both assured that Bauchi State would continue to sustain gains made in maternal and child health services, stressing that the well-being of children remains central to the administration’s agenda.
Partners Speak, Emotions Flow
Representatives of Alive & Thrive, including Dr. James Oloyede (on behalf of the Country Director) and Chidi Ebere, the State Team Lead, expressed gratitude for the strong collaboration during the three-year project.
In an emotional moment, Dr. Ebere broke down in tears as he spoke about the progress made and the hope that efforts to combat child malnutrition will not be abandoned. His emotional outpouring reflected the gravity of the challenge Bauchi still faces and the bonds formed with communities through the project.
Bauchi’s Health Challenge
Despite the progress made, Bauchi continues to grapple with one of the highest child malnutrition and infant mortality rates in Nigeria. Many children under five remain at risk due to limited access to proper nutrition, poor healthcare infrastructure, and poverty.
Stakeholders at the event called on both government and development partners to urgently design a follow-up initiative that will consolidate on ASMIYCN’s gains and ensure that vulnerable children do not fall back into crisis.
Looking Ahead
The Bauchi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to healthcare service delivery and urged continued collaboration from donor agencies, NGOs, and local communities.
For thousands of mothers and children in Bauchi, the hope is simple: that the closure of the ASMIYCN project will not mark the end of support, but the beginning of a renewed fight against malnutrition and infant deaths.
