Better Nutrition for the Nigerian Child Via ADHFP

PROJECT REPORT – JULY 2024

Better Nutrition for the Nigerian Child Via ADHFP (#60216)

Background

Nigeria, diverse and populous, struggles with improving child well-being, especially in remote areas, with children marked by inadequate nutrition and healthcare access. Malnutrition affects 1 in 3 children in developing countries like Nigeria. According to data from UNICEF, as of 2020, one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria, a significant portion of whom are from remote communities grappling with high rates of child malnutrition. Alarmingly, approximately 2.5 million children in the country are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition, underscoring the urgent need for intervention and support in these areas(ref).

Objectives Being Addressed

PHC-based Nutritional support (The ADHFP-Strategy): Leveraging the "Adopt A Healthcare Facility programme”, PSHAN can adopt and upgrade healthcare facilities in these communities, ensuring that children receive essential medical and nutritional care and also build capacity of healthcare workers and mother/caregiver on nutritional education and counselling to be able to identify nutritional danger signs.

Summary of Activities

Through the "Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme”, primary healthcare (PHC) facilities were revitalised across different states in Nigeria, providing vital healthcare, capacity-building for workers, and nutritional education for caregivers to identify danger signs. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

• As a key step in strengthening the workforce, the program has successfully completed the recruitment process for the ad-hoc staff in Rivers State.
• Monitoring & Evaluation Processes in place for monthly report collation, validation, and transmission.

Long-Term Impact

The implementation of the Adopt-a-Healthcare Facility Programme by the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) is expected to yield profound and sustainable long-term effects:

1. Improved child well-being: Support in remote communities improves well-being and reduces child mortality rates.
2. Empowered communities: The programme fosters community self-reliance, ownership, and development.
3. Reduction in inequalities: PSHAN's focus on remote communities will reduce healthcare disparities and promote equity and inclusivity.
4. Economic growth: Healthy children are more likely to become productive members of society, contributing to the economic growth of Nigeria in the long run.

Conclusion

With more funding from donations, children in Nigeria will have access to basic healthcare and better nutrition. We aim to enhance infant and young child feeding initiatives by providing essential micronutrient supplementation, including deworming, Vitamin A, and Iron supplementation, through widespread community campaigns. By prioritising these interventions, we aim to promote healthier lifestyles and mitigate the prevalence of common ailments such as colds, catarrh, malaria, diarrhoea, and vomiting among children.

Links:

• Learn more about ADHFP
• Get involved