I am delighted to announce the launch of the field implementation component of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Nutrition International Scaling Up Zinc and LO-ORS project to combat diarrhoea in Kano and Sokoto states in Nigeria.

The project is funded by the Government of Canada and seeks to increase timely care-seeking and treatment of diarrhoea with zinc and low-osmolarity oral rehydration salts. In partnership with the Ministries of Health in both states, my Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Nutrition International will target caregivers with messages promoting prompt care-seeking for children with diarrhoea and adherence to treatment with zinc and LO-ORS.

As the implementing partner on the Wellbeing Foundation Africa-Nutrition International Scaling Up Zinc and LO-ORS Project in Kano and Sokoto states, I am delighted that this intervention is aptly taking place at a time when diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases are threatening the livelihoods of Nigerians, especially in the northwestern part.

We are grateful to the Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agencies and other ministries, departments and agencies within the states for their dedication and commitment to this project, and also to all the frontline health workers who are leading the charge to curb the menace of diarrhoea within northwestern Nigeria.

The states will also receive technical and financial support to build the capacity of healthcare providers to treat diarrhoeal cases with zinc and LO-ORS and communicate with caregivers about the treatment, ensuring they can provide care for cases seen in health facilities or within the community.

Nutrition International truly believes in enhancing child survival, and that scaling up zinc and LO-ORS to improve childhood diarrhoea treatment contributes heavily to that. Diarrhoea is preventable and we must focus on continuously improving our prompt health-seeking behaviour, while sustaining availability and access to quality zinc and LO-ORS in public health facilities in the states.

The project has already trained nearly 200 health workers and administrators of selected primary and secondary health facilities in Kano and Sokoto states. By 2023, we are looking to increase the number of caregivers who seek prompt care for cases of childhood diarrhoea by an additional 2,238,439.

Diarrhoea is a leading cause of malnutrition and death in children under the age of five, and malnutrition is also known to prolong episodes of diarrhoea and increase mortality. That is why it is essential for a project like this to be in place, training and retraining health workers on the integrated management of childhood illnesses to enhance the capacity of the health workers.