Mama2Mama, Fathers-for-Good-Health Networks Mobilise Communities to Protect First 1,000 Days
Community volunteer networks, Mama2Mama and Fathers-for-Good-Health (F4F), are taking the fight against child malnutrition to households across Bauchi State, using grassroots education and early identification to help protect mothers and children during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
The initiative, supported by the United States Government and implemented by UNICEF, trains community volunteers to educate families, identify early signs of malnutrition and encourage pregnant women and mothers to seek timely healthcare.
The first 1,000 days — from conception to a child’s second birthday — is regarded as a critical period for a child’s growth and development.
In Jama’are Local Government Area, trained volunteers conduct door-to-door sensitisation, relying largely on community trust and health education to reach families in underserved areas.
Adama Dauda Abdullahi, a 50-year-old Mama2Mama volunteer trained in April 2026, said her responsibilities include monitoring pregnant women and mothers and encouraging them to access skilled healthcare.
“When we identify a woman or a child who needs attention, we assess the situation and provide the necessary support. If the condition requires further medical attention, we encourage or refer the person to a health facility,” she said.
Another volunteer, Kande Dokaji, said the response from residents had been encouraging, adding that volunteers teach mothers to recognise early warning signs of malnutrition, including poor growth, loss of appetite and changes in the skin.
She said children identified with malnutrition are referred to health facilities where they can receive appropriate care, including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) where prescribed.
The campaign is also targeting men through the Fathers-for-Good-Health network in a bid to improve household involvement in infant nutrition and healthcare decisions.
Yusuf Hafizu, an F4F member in Jama’are, said the training had improved his understanding of breastfeeding, complementary feeding and disease prevention.
“We learned about breastfeeding and what happens when a child reaches six months of age, when complementary foods should be introduced. After the training, we went into the community and shared what we had learned with other families,” Hafizu said.
Despite the increased awareness, health officials said challenges remained, particularly the gap between antenatal attendance and institutional deliveries.
The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, said between 70 and 80 per cent of mothers in the state attend antenatal care, while only about 35 to 40 per cent deliver in health facilities.
He warned that home deliveries could increase the risk of poor infant feeding practices, infections and childhood malnutrition.
Muhammad said the state had distributed about 480,000 cartons of RUTF and approved N500 million for the procurement of additional RUTF and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements.
He added that UNICEF was expected to provide another N500 million as a matching grant to support the procurement.
“We are waiting for the release of the money so that UNICEF will also pay another N500 million as matching grant to procure these items. That is why we are trying to close the gap,” he said.
UNICEF and the U.S. Government are also placing greater emphasis on preventing malnutrition before children require intensive medical intervention.
Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist with the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said the current U.S. Government grant had supported community-level prevention efforts and strengthened the capacity of local volunteers and health workers.
She said more than 40,000 children aged six to 23 months had benefited from Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) under the intervention.
Irene added that more than 6,000 Mama2Mama and Fathers-for-Good-Health support group members had been trained to deliver nutrition messages focusing on the first 1,000 days, while more than 50 health workers had received training on the management of acute malnutrition at health facilities.
According to her, the intervention is particularly important because of the rapid development that takes place during the first 1,000 days.
“This is the period where 75 per cent of brain development takes place, including the muscular system, skeletal system and vital organs,” she said.
Irene warned that failure to provide adequate nutrition and healthcare during the period could have long-term consequences for children’s development and health.
“If we miss this period, children may not fit among their peers, may not compete in the digital world, and may be prone to diseases like cancer, obesity and other non-communicable diseases,” she said.
The UNICEF-supported initiative is therefore seeking to strengthen the role of community volunteers as an early line of defence against malnutrition while encouraging families to make greater use of formal healthcare services.
