The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to support the Kano State government in enhancing surveillance for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) through the strengthening of the primary healthcare system.
WHO Country Representative and Head of Mission, Dr Kazadi Mulombo Walter, represented by the Kano State Coordinator, Dr Mayana Sanusi Abubakar, stated this during the flag-off ceremony for the first round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) at Unguwa Uku PHC in Tarauni LGA of Kano State.
He said while more children are being treated for severe malnutrition, Kano State still bears the highest burden in Nigeria.
Dr Mulombo highlighted the need to strengthen the PHC surveillance system within the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy to ensure early detection, treatment, and referral of severe cases for advanced care.
He commended the efforts of the Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for allocating 18% of the state budget to health for 2024, surpassing the Abuja Declaration’s benchmark.
In his address, Governor Yusuf emphasised that ceremony aims to improve health indices through preventive and curative interventions that enable mothers and children to thrive.