Dr Sani Jibril, the State Programme Manager for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project in Plateau, has called on lactating mothers and pregnant women not to negate the place of hospital visit due to relief from the project.
Jibril made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos.
NAN reports that ANRiN is a World Bank Assisted Project in collaboration with state governments to improve the nutritional status of under-5 children, lactating mothers and pregnant women in the states involved.
NAN also reports that the programme is under the Network for Health Equity Development (NHED) Group, one of the NGOs handling the project in Plateau, and currently catering for about seven LGAs.
Jibril while commending the reception the project is getting in the communities visited, advised the women to continue with their regular hospital visits and checks as supplies do not cover for their routine medical check-ups.
“I think by and large the programme is accepted within the communities that we’re delivering the services and probably even beyond.
“Because those local governments that we are not yet there, have heard about what we are doing and they are even requesting that this “ANRIN” should be brought to them too.
“Some of them do not know the meaning of ANRIN but they know that it is a programme that is helping pregnant women, lactating mothers with drugs.
“And doing that does not mean that we are encouraging women not to go to the hospital, no not at all.
“We still tell them that the first point of call, the most important place for a woman to visit during pregnancy or delivery is an hospital.
“But take the supplies as supplements while you’re going to the hospital for that because it kind of relieves them of some hardships and some out-of-pocket expenses,” he said.
Similarly, Jibril who commended the media for the progress the outreach had recorded in communities visited, asked that they continue with the support to help move Plateau forward in terms of nutrition.
“So we’re very happy that Plateau has welcomed and accepted the programme and we’re making progress.
“We hope and believe that with your understanding and collaboration we will achieve more.
ALSO READ:Unijos will organise the best NUGA in Nigeria’s history — VC
“And I want to particularly thank the media and also call on you to please continue with the support you’re providing.
“So that together we can achieve our target and move the State forward in terms of nutrition” he said.
