UNICEF and the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board conducted a follow-up zero-dose mobile outreach in Gidan Maigari, addressing health gaps in the remote Zangon Aya Ward, Igabi Local Government Areas, Kaduna State.
The initiative aims to address the pressing health and nutrition needs of underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
The the outreach was a response to an earlier intervention on May 28, which revealed widespread health challenges.
These included a high number of unvaccinated children (zero-dose) and several cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Speaking to journalists at the outreach, Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist at the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, disclosed that during the initial visit, health personnel identified 48 zero-dose children and diagnosed 52 children with SAM without complications.
She said an additional five children were found to have SAM with medical complications.
Ezeife also reported nine suspected measles cases, including one involving a pregnant woman.
She said due to the high turnout during the first outreach, the team was unable to conduct thorough follow-ups.
According to her, this prompted a coordinated response involving the SPHCB, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Igabi Local Government Health Department, and Zangon Aya Integrated Primary Health Centre, with support from UNICEF.
She explained that malnourished children were either enrolled in therapeutic feeding programmes or referred to stabilisation centres based on the severity of their condition.
“A disease surveillance team, comprising a surveillance officer, assistant, and medical doctor, was deployed on-site to manage suspected measles cases.”
Ezeife highlighted the outreach’s focus on promoting dietary diversity and providing nutrition education at the household level.
“Special attention was given to Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) counseling, encouraging women to initiate breastfeeding within one hour of childbirth, practice exclusive breastfeeding for six months, and introduce appropriate complementary feeding thereafter.”
She linked the intervention to UNICEF’s First 1,000 Days of Life initiative, emphasising the crucial period from conception to a child’s second birthday for laying the foundation of survival, growth, and development.
She said children enrolled in the Outpatient Therapeutic Program (OTP) would receive six to eight weeks of follow-up care, including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and essential medications.
Ezeife reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to sustained support in Gidan Maigari.
