Governor Dikko Radda has pledged maximum support for the expansion of the Save the Children’s Core Group Partners Project.

The expansion will focus on nutrition, maternal health, and child health programmes across benefiting communities in the state.

Mr Radda gave the assurance on Wednesday in Katsina during an advocacy and partnership meeting with CGPP officials.

The delegation was led by Ahmed Arale, the deputy global director of the CGPP Global Office. Other members included Lami Samaila and members of the CGPP Katsina State team.

Mr Radda described the project expansion as timely, saying Katsina needed sustained efforts to tackle malnutrition. He said improving maternal and child health outcomes remained a priority for his administration.

“I appreciate Save the Children and the Core Group Partners Project for their continued support to Katsina state. The expansion into nutrition and maternal and child health is timely because our state needs interventions in these areas.

“My administration is fully committed to supporting this initiative and ensuring its successful implementation,” the governor said.

He commended Save the Children and CGPP for their partnership in strengthening healthcare delivery. The governor noted that the collaboration had improved the well-being of vulnerable communities across Katsina.

CGPP’s project manager, Abubakar Ahmad, thanked the government for its partnership.

Mr Ahmad said the organisation had worked with Katsina for 15 years in health and humanitarian interventions. He explained that CGPP was introduced in Katsina State in 2014 to support polio eradication efforts.

The project also contributed to routine immunisation, global health security, and cross-border vaccination campaigns. Mr Ahmad said the expansion of nutrition and maternal health would address growing needs among women and children.

He disclosed that the programme was currently active in six local government areas. The areas include Katsina, Kaita, Mai’adua, Zango, Daura and Funtua council areas. He said interventions would include Tom Brown preparation and food demonstration sessions.

Other activities include MUAC screening, support groups for pregnant and lactating women, and awareness campaigns. The campaigns will promote proper infant and young child feeding practices in communities.

Mr Arale praised the state government’s commitment to improving healthcare services and strengthening partnerships. He expressed confidence that collaboration would improve immunisation, nutrition and primary healthcare delivery.

Ms Samaila stressed the importance of community participation in sustaining health interventions. She said the expansion demonstrated CGPP’s commitment to addressing community health needs.

Ms Samaila added that the initiative would consolidate polio eradication gains and improve healthcare access.

(NAN)