FG, Nutritional International train LMCU, M&E, others

FG, Nutritional International train LMCU, M&E, others on data collection

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with Nutrition International, organised a two-day training for logistics management coordinating units and monitoring and evaluation officers in Sokoto State, focusing on proper record-keeping.

Speaking at the event on Saturday, Oyedeji Ayobami, Nutrition State Coordinator for Nutrition International in Sokoto, explained that the training aims to ensure that all nutrition commodities are properly tracked and recorded on the dashboard. He emphasised the importance of tracking nutrition commodities from producers to consumers to gather accurate data on their movement.

Ayobami further noted that the training will standardise how health workers record the receipt, use, and leftovers of nutrition commodities, improving the quality of data input. He added, “The dashboard can also be accessed from anywhere in the world to track the movement of these commodities.” He commended the participants for their commitment and urged them to apply the knowledge gained in their respective offices.

Pharmacist Kabiru Abubakar Abdullahi, the Logistics Coordinating Unit Officer for the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, described the training as a positive initiative by the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure the security of nutrition commodities. He stated, “The training is crucial in equipping facility personnel with the capacity to manage the reporting channels and tools for these commodities from federal, state, and facility levels.” Abdullahi highlighted that the training would help protect the integrity of malnourished children and promote commodity security.

He called on both federal and state governments to extend this training to local governments and facility levels to ensure that those managing commodities at the grassroots are adequately trained. Abdullahi also urged the federal government to continue supporting not only primary healthcare centres but also private and public health centres across the country.

Participants, drawn from local government gatekeepers, including primary health care coordinators, management and evaluation units, and nutrition officers, are expected to use the knowledge gained to conduct similar training at the local government and facility levels, with government support.