Volunteers Intensify Fight Against Child Malnutrition in Bauchi

 

Community volunteers under the Mama2Mama and Fathers for Good Health initiatives have intensified household sensitisation and referral activities aimed at reducing child malnutrition in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The volunteers, who were trained by the Bauchi State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said the training had equipped them with knowledge and skills to identify early signs of malnutrition and educate families on appropriate nutrition and healthcare practices.

Maimuna Wakili, leader of Mama2Mama at the Under-5 Primary Healthcare Facility in Darazo, said the training enabled volunteers to move from house to house to sensitise women on the dangers and symptoms of malnutrition.

She said volunteers educate mothers to watch out for signs such as poor growth, failure to increase in height, weight loss and unhealthy-looking skin, calling on them to take affected children to health facilities for proper assessment and treatment.

She described the community’s acceptance of the programme as “overwhelming,” saying mothers, traditional leaders and other members of the community had continued to support their activities.

According to her, the intervention has contributed to a significant reduction in cases of malnutrition in the community.

“Our village heads have been encouraging us in this cause. Sometimes, some mothers even come to our houses for advice if they notice that their children are developing a lack of appetite or any form of sickness, and we refer them to the nearest health facility,” she said.

She identified guinea corn, soya beans, rice, groundnuts and millet among the grains they recommend to mothers for preparing nutritious meals for children.

Another Mama2Mama volunteer from Dankade community, Fatima Galadima, said the volunteers regularly visit households to educate mothers on the dangers of malnutrition and appropriate feeding practices.

She said when they identify children showing symptoms of malnutrition, they educate their mothers on nutritious foods that could be prepared at home when the condition is not severe.

She added that the volunteers faced minimal challenges because of the level of awareness created in the communities and the support received from religious and traditional leaders.

According to her, some husbands also support the initiative by encouraging volunteers to regularly visit their wives and remind them about health and nutrition advice.

Galadima appreciated the Bauchi State Government and UNICEF for training and empowering the volunteers to support their communities.

Similarly, Aishatu Hallai, a Mama2Mama volunteer operating in the Masallacin Idi Sarki community of Darazo, said the initiative had helped increase awareness among women about child nutrition and the early identification of malnutrition.

She said the volunteers visit households to educate mothers on how to protect their children from malnutrition and recognise changes in a child’s growth and weight.
According to her, poor growth and weight loss are among the signs that parents should take seriously.

Hallai said the volunteers maintain a good working relationship with health workers and refer mothers to health facilities whenever they require further information or medical attention.

“Anytime we explain something to the women and they don’t understand, we fix a date with them at the nearest health facility for the health workers to explain more to them so that they would understand,” she said.

Also, a beneficiary of RUTF in Unguwan Kawada, Fatima Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the authorities for ensuring that the therapeutic food reaches communities where children need it.

She appealed for continued support to ensure that more children affected by malnutrition receive treatment.

Muhammad also commended Mama2Mama volunteers for educating mothers on child feeding and the use of locally available foods to prevent malnutrition.

She said the volunteers had taught mothers that inadequate breastfeeding and delayed or insufficient feeding could contribute to malnutrition.

“When this child of mine was diagnosed with malnutrition, they gave me RUTF, and since I started giving it to him, he has been recovering,” she said.

In another development, the Fathers for Good Health initiative is also contributing to the campaign by mobilising men to support their wives and children in accessing essential healthcare services.

Safiyanu Yahaya, leader of Fathers for Good Health in Darazo East, said members of the group conduct house-to-house sensitisation to encourage men to support their wives throughout pregnancy and after childbirth.

He said their activities cover antenatal care, safe delivery, immunisation and other interventions necessary for the wellbeing of mothers and children.

“We go from house to house to talk to our fellow men to support their wives during pregnancy, from antenatal care to birth, to immunisation and all that is needed for the safety of the wives and the children,” Yahaya said.

He added that members of the group had also received training on malnutrition and were taught how to identify symptoms such as poor growth and weight loss.

“Once we notice it, we advise the parents to take the child to the hospital,” he said.
The activities of the Mama2Mama and Fathers for Good Health volunteers form part of community-level efforts to improve child nutrition, promote preventive healthcare and encourage families in Darazo to seek timely medical attention for vulnerable children.