A non-governmental organisation, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa in a bide to eradicate childhood diarrhea in Northern Nigeria, says it has successfully concluded the first phase of the ‘Scaling Up Zinc and Low-Osmolarity Oral Rehydration Solution’ meant for the Treatment of Childhood Diarrhoea in Northern Nigeria.
The Founder-President, Mrs. Toyin Ojora Sakari, who disclosed this at a three-day summit, under the Scaling Up of Zinc and LO-ORS for the Treatment of Childhood Diarrhoea in Northern Nigeria Project, funded by the Government of Canada, said the organisation identified the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme as a key factor towards promoting the overall wellbeing of end-users of drugs and medical services.
The Foundation gave an outline of the strategies undertaken to promote comprehensive access, availability and management of Nigeria’s Essential Medicines List, with a focus on the DRF/DMA strengthening.
“The ‘Scaling up Zinc and Lo-ORS to improve childhood diarrhoea treatment in Northern Nigeria’ project has strengthened the DRF schemes in Kano and Sokoto states, which catalyses modern medicine with better supply chain and financial procurement management.”
‘’This project which was implemented by the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, provided supportive supervision for health workers; in-facility and follow-up home visits to caregivers; and increased community stakeholders’ engagement.”
‘’These have created a state-wide behavioural change that has delivered measurable improvements where it is most needed.”
Mrs. Saraki commend the impact made by the Nutrition International and Wellbeing Foundation Africa partnership and look forward to working on the next phase of the project.
She noted that the phase of the project, which started in August 2021, recorded key successes in the management and treatment of diarrhoea in Kano and Sokoto states.
She revealed that the state teams trained 2,594 healthcare workers in both states, worked directly with the healthcare workers in 40 healthcare facilities in each state, and reached over 72,688 caregivers within both states.
The Programme Director, Nutrition International Nigeria, Dr. Titilola Adepeju Abolade, explained that the organisation aims to improve capacity strengthening for health service providers.
She also said that it seeks to sustain availability and access to quality Zinc and Lo-ORS commodities in public health facilities in the states.
According to her, “The project has also contributed to the training of frontline health workers; donated 155,000 Zinc/Lo-ORS co-packs to Kano and Sokoto.
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