ASHENEWS reports that stakeholders have urged state governments to leverage the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to strengthen the uptake of the newly introduced Multiple Micronutrients Supplements (MMS) in Nigeria.
The stakeholders stated this in a communique issued at the end of a two—day training for journalists on media advocacy for the scale-up of the supplement in Nigeria.
The event organized by the Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) was convened with the theme “Strengthening Media Capacity for improved Visibility of Anaemia Reduction through scale-up mms in Nigeria.”
The communique observed a lack of commitment by state governments to leverage counterpart funding options despite the availability of support from donor agencies.
It noted that a lack of awareness of its nutritional benefits has heightened the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Nigeria.
The stakeholders therefore recommended that the various state governments to key into available funding options to allow for increased access to MMS for pregnant women.
“The Media should see themselves as partners in the fight against anemia among pregnant women by being consistent in reporting issues of MMS to draw the attention of government and policy makers on MMS funding
“Journalists should link IFAS with MMS in their reportage to educate people on the transition.
“Stories from Media Practitioners on MMS should be compelling and solution based with accurate resource persons,” the stakeholders said.
This online platform reports that MMS are essential vitamins and minerals required in small amounts in the body for proper growth and development.
It has 15 vitamins and minerals, including iron and folic acid in the recommended dosage. 20 years of research provided clear evidence that it is more effective than IFA supplementation in preventing adverse birth outcomes.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the supplement can help tackle the nutritional deficiencies that undermine women’s health and threaten the survival and development of their children.
“MMS have the potential to transform the quality of nutrition care for pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
“Beyond efforts to improve the quality of women’s diets during pregnancy, introducing MMS is an opportunity to strengthen the integration and delivery of essential nutrition services in antenatal care,” UNICEF said.
