Civil Society Urges Pregnant Women in Nasarawa to Prioritise Micronutrient Supplements to Curb Malnutrition

By Chris Nyamtu

The Nasarawa State Coordinator of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Mr. Jonah Aboki, has urged childbearing mothers in the state to prioritise the consumption of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements and other essential nutrition commodities as a critical step towards tackling malnutrition and anaemia in children.
Mr. Aboki made the call while leading a team of health workers and nutritionists on an assessment visit to selected Primary Health Care Centres in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The visit, which included health workers, nutritionists and caregivers, was aimed at evaluating the quality of care provided to pregnant women and identifying challenges affecting access to essential nutrition commodities at the facilities.

Speaking during the visit, Mr. Aboki emphasised that the prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia among children could be significantly reduced if expectant mothers have consistent access to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, particularly during pregnancy. He also called on health workers and caregivers to intensify education and sensitisation campaigns, especially in rural communities, on the importance of proper nutrition and the use of recommended supplements.

In their remarks, the Deputy Director of Nutrition and Diarrhoea in the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Mr. Usman Obadiah, and the Deputy Director of Nutrition at the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs. Salamatu Isa-Chiroma, urged health personnel at primary healthcare centres to ensure pregnant women receive the full recommended dosage of nutrition commodities rather than administering them piecemeal.

Some pregnant women, including Zainab Ali and Bridget Attah, shared their experiences at the facilities, citing challenges such as limited knowledge about the medications and supplements given to them, as well as the long distances they trek from their communities to access care.

The Officer-in-Charge of Primary Health Care Centre, Tudun Kauri in Lafia, Mr. Abdulmumini Aliyu, expressed appreciation to the team for the visit and pledged to improve service delivery at the facility.(Radio Nigeria)