By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Nutrition International (NI), in collaboration with the Jigawa State Government, is set to roll out a new Behaviour Change Intervention (BCI) pilot aimed at increasing antenatal care (ANC) attendance and reducing maternal deaths in the state. The pilot will be implemented in Birninkudu and Buji Local Government Areas.
The initiative was announced during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Manpower Development Institute (MDI), Dutse, where the Country Director of Nutrition International Nigeria, Dr. Osita, represented by Senior Programme Officer Ajodele Gbemileke, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving maternal and child nutrition in Jigawa.
According to him, NI has enjoyed a productive partnership with the state government since 2020, implementing nutrition programmes targeted at women and children across seven LGAs. The new BCI pilot, he explained, is designed to increase demand for ANC services and ensure pregnant women adhere to daily Iron–Folic Acid and Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) intake.
“Our goal is to ensure pregnant women not only attend ANC clinics but also consistently take their micronutrient supplements as prescribed. This is essential for reducing complications and improving pregnancy outcomes,” he said.
Dr. Osita added that the pilot will be integrated into Jigawa’s Masaki platform, a community-based structure with strong grassroots reach. This, he noted, will deepen community engagement and enhance ongoing efforts to reduce maternal mortality in the state.
As part of the programme, 240 frontline ANC health workers across four clusters—Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia and Kazaure—will be trained on Maternal Nutrition Services (MNS). The training, he emphasized, will adhere to international standards to ensure high-quality service delivery and sustainability.
He called for stronger collaboration from the state government, the two pilot LGAs, religious and traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to guarantee a smooth and impactful rollout of the intervention.
“This stakeholders’ meeting is about aligning our strategies and ensuring everyone plays their role. The success of this pilot depends on collective action,” he noted.
The pilot marks a renewed push by NI and the Jigawa government to tackle persistent gaps in antenatal care uptake and preventable maternal deaths in the state.