NGO urges Lagos govt to leverage MMS for anaemia prevention, control
By Oluwafunke Ishola
Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition (CS-SUNN) has urged the Lagos State Government to leverage the Child Nutrition Fund, to procure multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS).
Its Executive Secretary, Sunday Okoronkwo, said procurement of MMS would enable the government to make it accessible to all pregnant women for the prevention and treatment of anaemia.
Okoronkwo said this during CS-SUNN Media Engagement on Improved Reportage of MMS for Anaemia Prevention and Control, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) is a catalytic financing match mechanism by UNICEF that enables governments to double their investments in essential nutrition commodities, including MMS, for the prevention and treatment of anaemia.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal.
Anaemia may be caused by several factors, including nutrient deficiencies through inadequate absorption of nutrients, infections (e.g. malaria, parasitic infections, tuberculosis, HIV), inflammation, and gynaecological and obstetric conditions, among others.
Anaemia is a critical global public health problem that particularly affects young children, menstruating adolescent girls and women, and pregnant and postpartum women.
It is a common cause of ill health or death in mothers and their babies, especially in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where more than four out of ten pregnant women have the condition.
Okoronkwo said a sizable proportion of pregnant women in Lagos are anaemic, urging the state government to urgently address it by focusing on maternal and child malnutrition.
“Now is the time for Lagos State to take bold action through strategic investments in MMS to drastically reduce anaemia rates, improve pregnancy outcomes, and give the next generation in this state a healthier start in life,” Okoronkwo said.
According to him, the state can harness the unique co-financing mechanism to double its investments in nutrition commodities like MMS and other interventions.
Okoronkwo stressed the need for the state to strengthen the integration of MMS into Antenatal Care Protocols in health facilities, ensuring that every pregnant woman receives comprehensive micronutrient support.
He called for the training of healthcare providers to effectively deliver MMS and educate mothers on the importance of the intervention.
“Establishing robust systems for monitoring MMS distribution to prevent stockouts and ensure that supplies are consistently available in both rural and urban healthcare facilities is key,” he said.
Okoronkwo said CS-SUNN would enhance the capacity of civil society organisations to effectively track and monitor MMS coverage, uptake, and adherence among pregnant women.
He added that this would enhance data availability and support evidence-based advocacy for improved maternal nutrition.
Similarly, Mrs Lilian Okafor, Communication Officer, CS-SUNN, said MMS would improve Nigeria’s maternal nutrition outcomes, reduce the number of infants born with low birth weight and prevent long-lasting human capital losses.
According to Okafor,the media plays a critical role in disseminating and ensuring visibility for MMS, urging the media to continue to raise public awareness about the benefits of MMS, especially in preventing anaemia and improving maternal outcomes.
Also, Mrs Olawumi Ajayi, State Coordinator, FHI 360 Alive and Thrive, said collaborative efforts of all key stakeholders were critical to deepening the uptake of MMS among pregnant women.
Commenting, Dr Adetoke Adekitan, Nutrition Programme Officer, Lagos State Primary HealthCare Board, said Lagos state had keyed into the Child Nutrition Fund by paying its 2024 matching fund.
Adekitan noted that efforts are ongoing to increase the state’s allocation for nutrition funding, noting that the funding would assist in the procurement of MMS, among other interventions.
According to her, MMS is given to pregnant women free of charge at the state health facilities, saying it’s a safe and cost-effective intervention that will help improve maternal health outcomes in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MMS are a daily dose of 15 vitamins and minerals that can help pregnant women meet their required nutritional needs.
WHO recommends taking MMS daily during pregnancy and it can be taken as a tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid.
Following the WHO’s updated nutritional recommendation and guidelines in 2021, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare approved the use of MMS during pregnancy.
The ministry did this through its updated National Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Nigeria. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
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