Nutrition International has pledged to support the Sokoto State government to improve data quality for the implementation of nutritional programmes in the state.
The Sokoto State coordinator of Nutrition International, Oyedeji Abayomi, who stated this at a one-day meeting with officials of Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHCDA) reiterated that “it is not big a price to revisit previous data captured.”
The objective of the meeting, according to Abayomi, is to disseminate key findings of the routine data quality assessment done by the state government and those used to make decisions to support nutrition programmes in the state.
Recommendations are also expected to be made, based on the findings and how those recommendations will be used to improve programming in the state.
Abayomi said, “We observe that most of the data are incomplete. Nutrition indicators are poorly captured and for us, whatever is not documented is, not done concerning nutrition in the whole state.
“A lot of partners are working in the nutrition thematics areas but collating the data is where the issue is and, Nutrition International is looking at areas to support the state that have improved data quality.
“Once we have enhanced data quality, you can be rest assured of improved implementation of nutritional programmes in the state.
“It is not much of a price, to revisit previous data captured especially, in our areas of focus, that is pregnant women and children. Here, we are making a lot of progress but lack of adequate data capturing is hampering us from making categorical and accurate decisions,” he said.
In his brief remarks, the state nutrition officer, Dr Nasiru Umar, admonished the participants to step up their job for the benefit of the people.
