By Haruna Kuyateh
The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) in collaboration with partners, Directorate of Health Promotion, Regional Health Directorate and UNICEF has embarked on a joint monitoring of Nutritional Programmes.
The monitoring targeting health facilities across all the regions in the country is meant to cover Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM), Mother MUAC, Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI), Multiple Micronutrient Power (MMP) and Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).
The purpose of the monitoring is to assessed the level of implementation and provide coaching and mentoring for health staff and beneficiary’s communities.
The monitoring team started from Essau District Hospital and Kerr Jatta of Lower Nuimi, Kerewan Health Centre, Kinteh Kund aMarong Kunda of Lower and Central Badibou and Noo Kunda of Upper Badibou.
Alieu Kujabi Principal Program Officer at National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) described the monitoring exercise as important for stakeholders and UNICEF, noting that it will provide opportunity to gather first hand information on the level of implementation.
He said addressing malnutrition calls for concerted efforts of all whilst commended Kerewan Health Centre for their commitment in transferring skills and knowledge among nurses at the facility.
Kujabi said frequent monitoring of program at health facility by Regional Health Directorate in Farafenni, demonstrated their overall commitment to supervision.
According to him, there is need to intensify Health Education on nutrition for mothers at facility level to enable them adopt and assist malnourished children to consume Super Cereal and plump nuts at different stages to boost immune system.
Musa Dahaba Senior Program Officer at NaNA alluded that the capacity enhancement for nurses and community volunteers aimed to strengthen effective management of nutrition for children less than 5 years.
He noted that the monitoring visit will help to keep track on progress and identified gaps, with the ultimate aim of addressing challenges. The program aimed at working with community structures to ensure mothers collaborate in addressing challenges and promote the uptake of supplementary feeding for children less than years old.
The team however stressed on the need for proper record keeping and documentation at health facility and community levels.
Fabakary Bass Nutrition Field Coordinator at NaNA, Binta R Touray Registered Nurse RN a Focal Point on Nutrition at Kerewan Health Facility; Bakary Dampha of UNICEF; Mariama Dampha and Fatou Darboe from Directorate of Health Promotion and Education; Momodou Kanteh Village Health Worker; MariamaTrawally, JainabaTrawally and Isatou Darboe community volunteers and lots from the team and staff at various health facilities visited made comments and shared their observations with the visiting monitoring team.