Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe is the Chief of Party/National Programme Manager for the Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) project in Abuja, Nigeria. He is responsible for the overall leadership, management and coordination of the project. In this video, Dr Oloriegbe discusses the WINNN project, including the purpose, impact, outcome, and outputs of this intervention. WINNN is a 6 year project (2011 to 2017) funded by DFID (50 million GBP), which supports 5 states in Northern Nigeria (Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe). These 5 states are home to an under-5 population of approximately 4.6 million and report some of the worst stunting rates in Nigeria according to the 2008 Demographic & Health Survey. Zamfara and Jigawa are addressed in Phase 1 of the project; Katsina, Kebbi, and Yobe in Phase 2.
WINNN is a unique partnership which brings together a consortium of partners, including:
– Operational Research and Impact Evaluation (ORIE) project team
– UNICEF
– Save the Children
– Action Against Hunger (ACF)
Purpose of WINNN:
The overall purpose of WINNN is to build the capacity of the state and local government areas (LGAs) to implement nutrition interventions as routine services through existing primary health care (PHC) structures and to use evidence-based advocacy to improve political commitment to and government funding for nutrition interventions.
Impact of WINNN:
WINNN is working towards improved nutritional status of children under five in Northern Nigeria
Outcome of WINNN:
Specifically, WINNN is attempting to improve delivery of nutrition interventions through routine health services, funded by the Government of Nigeria
Outputs of WINNN:
– Delivery of micronutrient interventions through the platform of the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week (MNCHW) and routine primary health services
– Delivery of effective infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions in selected states and local government area (LGA) in Northern Nigeria
– Delivery of effective treatment for severe acute malnutrition through local health systems in selected states and LGAs in Northern Nigeria
– Strengthening of nutrition coordination and planning mechanisms at the national and state level
Key achievement figures:
– 7,701,532 unique children received Vitamin A supplementation (6-59 months)
– 3,542,125 unique pregnant women received iron folate supplements
– 8 million doses of Albenderzole distributed to children of 12-59 months
– 361,076 pregnant women and mothers of children less than 24 months received counselling on appropriate IYCF
– All 5 WINNN states are meeting SPHERE recovery rates, with an average recovery rate of 97% in Jigawa, 77% in Katsina, 80% in Kebbi, 92% in Yobe and 88% in Zamfara
– 114,420 children were admitted into community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) services
Value for money:
WINNN has demonstrated “value for money” by using existing government platforms and systems for implementation, revitalising health services, integrating other services, increasing community acceptance and trust of government service, and strengthening the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. Significantly, WINNN has saved on the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).Challenges:
Dr Oloriegbe identified the following challenges as WINNN moves forward:
– Increased insecurity and criminality
– Release of funds in nutrition state budget lines by government
– Human resourcing for health
– Managing expectations: government, community volunteers, and community leaders
– Social cultural environment and context of implementation: gender etc.
To learn more about plans for the future of WINNN, click here to watch the HEART Talk, Introducing WINNN 2: Andrew Tomkins on the future of the Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) project.
To learn more about the Government of Nigeria’s take on WINNN and the potential for WINNN to continue to make an impact, click here to watch the HEART Talk, Lessons Learned from the Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) project: A Government Perspective.