By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Civil Society – Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS SUNN, has called for an urgent action to prevent the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women which causes of maternal and child mortality.
The Executive Secretary, CS SUNN, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo made this call recently in Lagos at a Media Engagement for improved Reportage on the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, MMS, for Anaemia Prevention and Control in Nigeria.
Okoronkwo said that the aim of the media meeting was to address the urgent need to address the escalating challenge of maternal and child malnutrition, while
focussing on anaemia, and how to prevent the cause of maternal and child mortality.
He said, ” Malnutrition poses a persistent and escalating threat to the well-being of women and children worldwide.”
He therefore called on the Lagos State government to invest in MMS to drastically reduce anemia rates , and improve pregnancy outcomes to ensure a healthier next generation.
Okoronkwo said, “Through the Child Nutrition Fund, the Lagos State Government can harness a unique co-financing mechanism to double its investments in nutrition commodities like MMS and other interventions.”
” We urge the Lagos state government to leverage the Child Nutrition Fund, to procure MMS and make it accessible to all pregnant women in the state.”
“It is important for the state government to strengthen the integration of MMS into Antenatal Care Protocols in health facilities, ensuring that every pregnant woman receives comprehensive micronutrient support.”
“In Lagos state, the data revealed that 1-2 children out of every 10 children under-five (17.3%) are stunted, about one (6.0%) out of every 20 children are underweight with about two (14.3%) out of every 10 children are suffering wasting.”
Okoronkwo explained that the MMS intervention can be achieved when there is effective MMS distribution and monitoring systems to prevent stock outs that ensure supplies are consistently available in both rural and urban healthcare facilities.
He further noted the importance of engaging healthcare providers through effective training on how to deliver MMS and while educating mothers on the importance of the MMS intervention on them and their newborn.
According to the 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet, one billion women lack access to adequate nutrition and balanced diets-essential for survival and growth through every stage of life globally.
“Shockingly, two out of every three women of reproductive age suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, severely impacting maternal and child health outcomes.”
In Nigeria, recent findings from the 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reveal an increase in malnutrition levels in the country when compared to data from five years ago.
CS SUNN noted that this worrisome development requires an urgent and more coordinated response to address the rising malnutrition crisis.
However , the survey shows that nationally, 4 out of every 10 (40%), children under five are stunted (compared to the 37% stunting rate in 2018) with about 5 (55%) out of 10 women of reproductive age suffering from anaemia.
Malnutrition poses a persistent and escalating threat to the well-being of women and children worldwide.
