By Sani Adamu Hassan
An International Non-Governmental Organization,The Medecins Sans Frontiers Doctors Without Borders has admitted 17,223 malnourished children in Ganjuwa local area of Bauchi state with a view to provide them with free paediatric and nutrition quality care.
Considering the rampant cases of malnutrition in tha same local government, the MSF says it will increase the bed capacity from 250 to 350 inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Center (ITFC) and Inpatient Paediatric Department (IPD) towards mitigating and given routine vaccines to the affected patients before they are discharged from the hospital.
The Bauchi State Project Coordinator Medecins Sans Frontiers, Mrs. Rabi Adamou gave the indications during a Media Chart with Journalists Bauchi.
She examined that the number of children suffering from malnutrition in Ganjuwa local government are very high, hence the need for International Donors, Non Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations and the state government to intervene in that direction.
Mrs. Rabi Adamou also said their staff were operating effectively in three Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Center (ATFC) including Kafin Madaki, Kafin Liman and Miya Primary Healthcare centers providing medical services to the affected patients.
In her speech during the media chart the Nutrition Adviser of MSF, Mrs. Nathalie Avril observed that the Medecins Sans Frontiers had supported the state Government through the Ministry of Health during the peak period of Lassa Fever outbreak in January 2024, saying that MSF team also established a referral units in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi for carrying out health promotion activities, surveillance and contact tracing management and vaccination in the affected areas.
She said Bauchi State is among the eleven states selected in the country to benefit from the project, which aims at supporting the healthcare services.
According to her, other states include Benue, Borno, Cross River, and Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara .
Earlier Speaking, The Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed appreciated the effort of Medecins Sans Frontiers towards managing the activities of health sector in the state.