Lawmakers and stakeholders agree to support the uptake of MMS for anemia prevention in Kaduna state
By:Femi Mustapha
Members of Kaduna State House of Assembly and other stakeholders have said malnutrition remains a pressing challenge in Nigeria, with the latest National Demography and Health Survey (NDHS 2023) highlighting alarming statistics, hence the need to support the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for anemia prevention in the state.
This was contained in a communique issued after a one-day policy dialogue aimed at securing commitments from policymakers for increased funding and strategic interventions for Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), organized by the Planning and Budget Commission (P&BC) with support from the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
The Communique was jointly signed by the Permanent Secretary of Planning and Budget Commission PBC Bashir Muhammad (MNi), Chairman House Committee on Food and Nutrition Security, Hon. Jesse Daud Tanko, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Barnabas Haruna and Secretary of Appropriation Committee, Kaduna State House of AssemblyLawal Isah.
Others include the Chairman of the House Committee on Agric, Abdullah Moh Bello Chairman, Ward Development Committee Kaduna State Balarabe Idris and Evidence Lead, Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism Rahila Ishaku Baita Chairman of House Committee on Agric, Lawal Isah and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Abubakar Abba Umar
The stakeholders also called on the State government to create a special account for nutrition funds to accelerate the implementation of nutrition activities in the State, saying creating such an account would help in fast-tracking the reduction of malnutrition and anemia in Women and Children in the state.
The Stakeholders discussed the socioeconomic and developmental costs of malnutrition, emphasizing the need to align state-level nutrition policies with national frameworks to secure sustainable outcomes.
They urged the Planning and Budget Commission and the Ministry of Finance to ensure that releases are cash-backed to enable proper implementation of nutrition and food security initiatives, as well as other government priorities.
“Ensure that the Kaduna State Government creates an account for all funds for Nutrition activities in the Ministry for Local Government, for implementation of nutrition activities across LGAs.
“Effectively leverage on partner’s support in the fight against malnutrition in Kaduna State.
“Ensure the inclusion of Ward Development Committees (WDC) as part of the LGA Steering Committee on Food and Nutrition.
“Expand the membership of nutrition stakeholders to capture respective Legislative Members such as Chairman House committees on Nutrition and Food Security, Agriculture, Finance, Local Government, Public Accounts, and Appropriation.
“Leverage Economic Planning Board meetings in the fight against malnutrition and ensure cultural reorientation to improve nutrition.” The stakeholders said.
The dialogue was aimed at re-informing the policy and lawmakers on the nutrition situation in the State, the role of MMS, and their roles in combatting the menace (especially through constituency engagements).
Secure commitments of the state legislature and the executives to improve domestic investment for MMS towards reduction of malnutrition via anemia reduction.
In her Goodwill messages, Kaduna State Team Lead for Alive & Thrive (A&T), Mrs. Sarah Kwasu, disclosed that half of all under-five mortality is caused by underlying maternal and child undernutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies.
The A&T State Team Lead observed that the high prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age and pregnant women in Nigeria is widely recognized as an important public health problem because of its negative consequences for pregnancy outcomes and its impact on maternal mortality., noting that Policy and lawmakers have a great role to play in addressing this.
She explained that in addition to anemia, deficiencies such as vitamin A, zinc, vitamin B12, iodine, and folate are also widespread in Nigeria and harm pregnancy outcomes.
She added that over the past five decades, Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation has become a core component of antenatal care for pregnant women In Nigeria to address anemia.
The team lead, however, said that, while IFA are critical nutrients, they are not the only nutrients that pregnant women may need to support their health and the health of their children.
She therefore said women need nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable diets along with essential nutrition services and positive nutrition practices for their survival, health, and well-being as well as that of their children and MMS is a better alternative
