Amid rising cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM, among children, the Niger State Ministry for Primary Health Care said concerted efforts are ongoing to improve life-saving services in nutrition stabilization centers in order to reduce morbidity and mortality rates associated with SAM in the state.

The Commissioner, Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana, stated this during a training session for healthcare workers held at the State Training Center. He said in view of this development, the ministry, in collaboration with Anrin 1.0, has unveiled a Training of Trainers on the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) In-patient Care.

He explained that the initiative spearheaded by the Niger State Government is aimed at equipping all healthcare workers with essential skills to effectively manage SAM cases.

Dangana explained, “The training is timely. It aligns with the New Niger Agenda of Muhammad Umaru Bago to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals to combat the rising rates of acute malnutrition in the state.”

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Gana, had highlighted the collaborative approach being adopted across various sectors to address malnutrition challenges.

He reiterated the unwavering commitment of the state government to ensuring that healthcare workers are well prepared to deliver high-quality care to affected children.

Also, the State Nutrition Officer, Dtn. Asmau Mohammed Abubakar, expressed her support for the programme, stating that the motive of the training is to enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare workers.

Asmau stressed that involving caregivers and providing comprehensive nutrition counseling to them will significantly impact treatment outcomes.

The lead facilitator, Suleiman Abdullahi, noted that the training modules are based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, focusing on SAM diagnosis and treatment.