Aliyu Salisu Muhammad
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Kano state government KNSG have put modalities in place aimed at addressing anemia among pregnant women in the state.
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The UNICEF Kano Field Office Nutrition Specialist, Oluniyi Oyedokun, revealed this in his opening remarks during the opening ceremony of a two-day stakeholders inception meeting on the scale-up of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in Kano state.
Oluniyi, however, described MMS as an essential and effective intervention for anemia reduction and improved pregnancy outcomes.
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The nutrition specialist emphasized the urgency of government funding for MMS procurement to save the lives of pregnant women and future generations.
He encouraged all stakeholders to approach anemia prevention comprehensively, focusing on social and behavioral change, creating an accepting environment for MMS, as well as the necessary roles for government and policy makers in preventing anemia among pregnant women.
Oluniyi who commended Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf for ordering the immediate release of N500 million to procure Ready To Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for management of severe acute malnutrition among children under the age of five years, revealed that UNICEF has pledged to release matching grant through the Child Nutritional Fund (CNF).
“The MMS scale-up project in Kano state is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and currently, only five states in Nigeria, including Kano, are benefiting from the project”
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The state commissioner for health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf represented by the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Shehu Sani Shehu, thanked UNICEF and other partners for their prompt intervention to Kano state government, particularly, on issues concerning primary healthcare for children and pregnant women.
He expressed his belief that the meeting is important and timely and will help to overcome the challenges of anemia and malnutrition in Kano state.
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Dr. Abubakar stated that the State Government is committed to releasing N500 million to partner with UNICEF for procurement of RUTF through the Child Nutrition Match Fund.
The Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru Mahmood, represented by the Director of Family Health Services in the Board, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Habib, said effective MMS intervention will improve reduction in mortality rate among pregnant women.
He commended UNICEF and other development partners for their resilience towards ensuring that Kano benefit substantially from the MMS intervention.
Dr. Mahmoud hoped that the objectives of the meeting which include to share the concept and deliverable of the BMGF funded MMS scale-up project to state level stakeholders in Kano state, will be achieved.
In his presentation entitled: “Nutrition Landscape Situation In Kano,” Dr. Imma Wada Bello lamented what he described as, “severe acute malnutrition rate among pregnant women and under-five age children in Kano state.
The Director of Health and Nutrition, Dangote Foundation, Dr. Francis Aminu, represented by Abba Usman Mohammed, assured that the Foundation, will play major roles towards supporting the implementation of MMS programme in Kano state.
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The event titled 2 day stakeholders inception meeting on scale up of multiple Micronutrient supplement MMS for improved pregnancy outcome in Kano witness large turn out of representatives from KNSPHCMB, UNICEF, BMGF, Alive & Thrive, CS-SUNN, NI, R4D,SMOH, MoP&B among others.