FHI 360 A&T Project Closes Up with Lasting Impact on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition in Kaduna
By: Femi Mustapha
The FHI 360 Alive & Thrive (A&T) project, a global nutrition initiative, has concluded its Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) project intervention in Kaduna State, leaving a lasting impact on thousands of mothers and children.
The project was implemented in partnership with the Kaduna State Government to strengthen nutrition systems and practices and improve the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, represented by the Deputy Director in the Ministry, Dr. Maryam Apanpa, expressed the state’s sincere appreciation for A&T’s partnership, dedication, and impact.
The Commissioner noted that A&T has been a strong partner to the State, working hand in hand with the Ministry of Health to enhance infant and young child nutrition across all 23 Local Government Areas.
.”The state government is grateful for the project’s contributions to improving the health and well-being of women and children in Kaduna State,” she said.
The State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Mrs. Ramatu Haruna, highlighted the project’s achievements, including a significant increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates from 19.9% to 41%.
She attributed this progress to A&T’s efforts in preventing malnutrition among pregnant women and children in Kaduna State, which has helped curb anemia.
“The project’s impact is evident in the improved nutritional status of children, reduced morbidity, and enhanced cognitive development,” Mrs. Haruna said.
She assured that the state government will implement the sustainability plans developed by A&T holistically.
The State Team Lead of A&T, Mrs. Sarah Didi Kwasu, reflected on the project’s achievements, saying, “Our MIYCN & MMS intervention has made a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of mothers and children, improving their nutrition and health outcomes.”
The Program Officer of A&T, Victoria Adams, added that the initiative remains committed to advancing maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Kaduna state by scaling up interventions such as MMS, strengthening systems, and fostering government ownership.
“The A&T initiative has made significant progress in improving MIYCN practices and outcomes in Kaduna State,” she said.
According to her A&T initiative supports Kaduna State governments and local partners to deliver high-quality maternal nutrition and infant and young child feeding services through various strategies, including maternal nutrition and MMS, health systems strengthening, community engagement, policy and enabling environment, mass communication, and research and learning.
According to Victoria Adams, “The initiative has generated local evidence on maternal nutrition interventions, including MMS landscape analysis in 18 states and service delivery models to inform policy and scale-up.”
The Senior Technical Advisor from the country Office of A&T, Mr. Olumide Faleke, tasked the Kaduna state government on sustainability and adhering to the gains of the MIYCH project.
“It is essential for the state government to continue the good work started by A&T and ensure that the project’s achievements are sustained,” he said.
With the project’s conclusion, the initiative aims to ensure healthier outcomes for women and children and contribute to national development.
