UNICEF has raised concerns about the alarming rate of child malnutrition in Kano State, revealing that 56.9% of children under five in the state are stunted due to inadequate nutrition.
This stark statistic was shared by UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mr. Oluniyi Oyedokun, during a two-day stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna focused on scaling up Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to improve pregnancy outcomes in Kano.
Oyedokun emphasized that in Kano, one out of every two children suffers from stunting, highlighting the severe impact of malnutrition on the region’s youngest population.
The MMS intervention, backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is currently being implemented in only five Nigerian states, including Kano. Oyedokun urged stakeholders to approach the prevention of anemia in pregnancy with a holistic perspective, emphasizing social behavioral change as key to creating an enabling environment for the acceptance and success of MMS interventions.
He called on the Kano State Government to play a more active role, given the state’s large population and the critical importance of improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Oyedokun described the ongoing partnership between UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Alive and Thrive, and CS-SUN as essential for enhancing pregnancy outcomes and addressing malnutrition in the state.
The meeting aimed to share the concept and goals of the MMS project with Kano state stakeholders, outline partner responsibilities, identify opportunities for leveraging government resources, and develop a comprehensive implementation plan.
Oyedokun highlighted the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, starting from conception, for the child’s overall growth and development.
He expressed concern over the high rates of anemia in the region, noting that 60.4% of women in the North-West are affected.
He also commended Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for approving the release of counterpart funds to support the MMS initiative and expressed hope that Kano would lead the way in implementing a child nutrition fund in Nigeria.
The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf, represented by acting Permanent Secretary Shehu Sani, thanked UNICEF and other partners for their ongoing support, particularly in primary healthcare for children and pregnant women.
The Director-General of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Nasiru Mahmoud, underscored the potential of effective MMS interventions to reduce maternal mortality rates, while expressing gratitude to development partners for ensuring Kano’s substantial benefit from the MMS program.
