The Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) from the 23 Local Governments of Kaduna State have restated their commitment to promoting the intake of ‘Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS)’ and improving the health outcomes of pregnant women.
They committed at the end of a two-day orientation programme on MMS organised by the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), with support from Alive & Thrive on Friday in Kaduna.
The sensitisation was also supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) MMS grantees; UNICEF, Nutrition International, Results for Development (R4D) and Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
One of the NFPs, Nafisa Yusuf of Makarfi LGA, said she would step down the training she received for pregnant women in her LG.
She said that the MMS, which contains 15 micronutrient, could not be derived from normal diets.
“MMS improves the nutritional situation of pregnant women and prevents them from anaemia, eclampsia and heart failure.
“The orientation we have by Alive & Thrive will be a game-changer in our efforts to promote MMS,” Yusuf said.
On her part, the focal person of Jema’a LGA, Blessing Thomas, said that the orientation would be valuable in enhancing their capacity to promote MMS intake and improve health outcomes.
She explained that they were hitherto only familiar with Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS), which they normally gave pregnant women during antenatal natal care.
Thomas, however, said they now have a better knowledge and better product to use (MMS), which is used to prevent anaemia, where IFAS was used for treatment.
She, therefore, said she would intensify efforts to promote the MMS through increased awareness at the communities in her LGA even before the products
were available.
Also, Mrs Ruth Samuel, NFP, Chikun LGA, stressed the importance of MMS in the maintenance of the haemoglobin level of pregnant women and suppressing the chances of anaemia.
She explained that MMS intake would be easy for the women, ” because it is a single tablet containing 15 nutrients, against IFAS which is two to three which the women take at once.
“IFAS is only used when there is low haemoglobin level (anaemia), where is it normal, then MMS plays a role in maintaining the haemoglobin level, protects the fetus, reduce mortality and mobility rate for pregnant women.”
Samuel said they would work tirelessly to ensure that every pregnant woman and child in their communities receives the necessary MMS for optimal health.
Equally, Tukur Muhammad, the NFP, Zaria LGA, said he would scale down the orientation he received to the health facilities at his LGA.
He added that, when the commodities became available, he would distribute them to all the facilities.
Muhammad underscored the importance of a behavioural change approach in convincing pregnant women to switch from IFAS to MMS.
He, however, expressed optimism that his LGA would accept MMS, stressing that it has no side effects.
Mrs Sarah Kwasu, the State Team Lead of Alive & Thrive, said she was thrilled to see the commitment of the NFPs to promoting MMS intake and improving health outcomes for pregnant women at the local level.
She said that the orientation programme was aimed at equipping the NFPs with the knowledge and skills necessary to champion MMS promotion in their respective LGAs.
Kwasu said, “We believe that our support, combined with the NFPs dedication, will lead to a significant impact on the health and well-being of mothers and children in Kaduna State.”
The end of the orientation, the NFPs agreed on strategies to address the challenges and improve MMS coverage in the state.
Alive & Thrive, which facilitated the orientation, is a global nutrition programme aimed at improving the health and well-being of mothers and children in developing countries.
The programme focuses on promoting optimal maternal and infant nutrition practices, including breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding and adequate micronutrient intake.
NAN
