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By Ogbu Linus, Lafia
Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS -SUNN), an NGO, has appealed to the Federal Government to include Multiple Micro-nutrient Supplements (MMS) in essential medicines list to combat anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), essential medicines list contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe to meet the most important needs in a health system.
This is contained in a communique signed by CS -SUNN Executive Secretary, Sunday Okoronkwo at the end of a two day media training on advocacy for the scale -Up of the supplement and made available to newsmen in Lafia.
The two days media training which was organised by CS -SUNN in Abuja, has its theme: “Strengthening Media Capacity for Improved Visibility of Anaemia Reduction Through Scale -Up of MMS in Nigeria”.
According to the communique, inclusion of the MMS in the essential medicines list will be a bolster to the fight to reduce micro-nutrient deficiencies among pregnant women, children adolescent girls.
It appealed to governments at all levels to also include MMS in their recurring budget allocations and procurement plans and prioritise funding to reduce anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria.
“Government should include MMS in the essential medicines list, and it should be included in recurring budget allocations and procurement plans at federal, state and local government levels,” it recommended.
The NGO appealed to state governments to advantage of availability of counterpart funding for MMS by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to tackle the micro-nutrient deficiencies that undermine women’s health and threaten the survival and development of children.
It tasked Journalists and Civil Society Organisations to effectively report on anaemia and its consequences to women and adolescent girls and create more awareness on reduction through their reportage and various campaign channels.
“Government at all levels to prioritize MMS funding to reduce anaemia among pregnant women.
“Journalists and CSOs should be intentional on MMS campaigns using multi-media platforms to disseminate their reports.
“The Media should intensify partnership in the fight against anaemia in pregnant women, journalists should link IFAS with MMS in their reportage to educate people on the transition,” the communique read.
Multiple Micro-nutrient Supplements are essential vitamins and minerals required in small amounts in the body for proper growth and development, it has 15 vitamins and minerals, including iron and folic acid in the recommended dosage,
Recalls that 20 years of MMS research provided clear evidence that it is more effective than Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) in preventing adverse birth outcomes.
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