Adamawa unveils new project to improve child’s survival during first 1000 days
The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF and Global Affairs Canada, has launched a new intervention project aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
The project, unveiled during an inception meeting in Yola, is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery for pregnant women, newborns, and infants across the state through preventive and community-based healthcare interventions.
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Speaking during the event, the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADPHCDA), Dr. Sulaiman Saidu Bashir, described the initiative as a major step toward improving child survival and healthy development in Adamawa State.
According to him, the project, supported by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with UNICEF, is known as the Essential Support Humanitarian Action for Children project and focuses on the period from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday.
“This afternoon we had an inception meeting on a new project supported by Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with UNICEF. It is aimed at targeting the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to childbirth and up to the second birthday of the child,” he said.
Dr. Bashir explained that the programme is designed to improve the health and survival of children while ensuring they grow and develop optimally.
“It is to nourish, to grow and to thrive. That is the theme of the project,” he added.
The ADPHCDA chairman noted that the state government would play a central role in sustaining the initiative through the provision of human, financial, and material resources, while development partners would support the initial implementation phase.
He said the intervention would emphasize preventive healthcare using what he described as “high-impact, low-cost interventions” capable of reaching communities across the state.
“The whole essence of the project is to initiate a strategic response and the state will sustain it. It is result-oriented, feasible and will be sustained,” he stated.
Dr. Bashir further disclosed that although the project is expected to run for two years initially, its target population covers the entire state, in line with the government’s inclusive healthcare policy.
“In Adamawa State, our mantra is to leave no one behind and nothing untouched, and we will do just that,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, said the first 1,000 days of a child’s life remain the most critical stage for physical and mental development.
She explained that the initiative would focus on maternal health, antenatal care, nutrition counseling, exclusive breastfeeding, vaccination, birth registration, and child protection.
“At the time of conception, the mother needs to be healthy during pregnancy. When the child is born, all the rights of the child, including vaccination, nutrition and protection, must be ensured,” she said.
Dr. Rafique emphasized that proper nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months are key to preventing malnutrition, infections, and childhood diseases.
“If breastfeeding is not exclusive and feeding practices are poor, the child becomes sick repeatedly and may fall into malnutrition,” she explained.
She added that UNICEF and partners are optimistic that strengthening healthcare delivery systems for mothers and infants would significantly improve child nutrition outcomes in the state.
On concerns about diversion of humanitarian aid and nutrition products, Dr. Rafique disclosed that monitoring committees have been established at both state and local government levels to prevent misuse and diversion of supplies.
According to her, the committees include traditional rulers, teachers, local leaders, healthcare workers, and local government officials who will monitor distribution and report cases of diversion.
She said the arrangement would enhance accountability and ensure that support reaches the intended beneficiaries.
