N1.5 billion for the procurement of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to combat anaemia among pregnant women in the state.
However, 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 scale-up MMS in Kano state, held at Hotel Seventeen, Kaduna state, on Wednesday.
Oluniyi said, while Kano will commit N500 million, UNICEF will match it up with N1 billion as part of its support to eradicate the syndrome of anaemia among pregnant women in the state.
He then hailed the Kano state Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf for ordering the immediate release of the counterpart fund, assuring that UNICEF on its part, remained ever ready to make the N1 billion matching fund available for the immediate procurement of MMS to better the lives of pregnant women in Kano who are mostly vulnerable to anaemia due to malnutrition.
Oluniyi however described MMS as, “the most essential and common solution to amaemic pregnant women globally.
” Our policy makers should know that MMS is very important. They should make haste to release funds for the procurement of MMS to save the lives of the pregnant women and the generations unborn.”
He therefore expressed optimism that Kano state would be the first to implement child nutrition fund in Nigeria, while commending Governor Yusuf for the express approval of the release of the N500 million MMS counterpart fund.
Oluniyi appealed to all stakeholders to look at the prevention of anaemia in pregnancy holistically, from the perspective of social behavioural change, creating enabling environment for MMS acceptability and intervention, and the needed roles government and policy makers should play in preventing anaemia among pregnant women.
The MMS intervention campaign is being sponsored by Bill and Melinda Foundation, adding that only five states in Nigeria, including Kano are currently benefiting from the project.
Oluniyi appreciated the efforts of Kano state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf and and the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Imam Wada Bello, in championing the cause of MMS intervention and other issues concerning the welfare and health of women and children in the state.
He disclosed that ” Since he assumed office as the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf has made UNICEF and other partners proud. He has changed the narratives. He is always quick to listen and act on issues concerning children and pregnant women.
While speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf, who was 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 then hinted that” We appreciate UNICEF and other partners, partnering with Kano state government to ensure that we overcome all health challenges, particularly, the growing anaemia among under-five age children and pregnant women.
” It is said that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It is my believe that this very important meeting will help us overcome the challenges of anaemia and malnutrition in Kano state.”
The Commissioner further revealed that arrangements have been concluded to release the N500 million MMS intervention fund as directed by Governor Yusuf.
Also speaking, the Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru Mahmoid, who was 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 stated 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.
He also listed other objectives of the meeting to include: outlining and agreeing on the roles and responsibilities of partners; identifying enabling environment for leveraging government resources for procurement of MMS; and developing work-plan and agree on modalities of implementation.
While ,Dr.Imam Wada Bello, in his presentation entitled: “Nutrition Landscape Situation In Kano,” lamented what he described as, “severe acute malnutrition rate among pregnant women and under-five age children in Kano state.
He said that” Everythingstarts from that woman getting pregnant! Is she malnourished? Is she actually prepared for the pregnancy? Pregnant women ought not to be anaemic. We preach exclusive breastfeeding, but the question is this: where will the nourished milk come from if the nursing mother is anaemic?” he queried.
