A COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A DAY POLICY DIALOGUE ON THE UPTAKE OF MULTIPLE MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS (MMS) TO PREVENT ANAEMIA, HELD AT GOLFVIEW HOTELS, IKEJA GRA, LAGOS STATE, ON FRIDAY, 6TH DECEMBER 2024, PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR, MEDIA CENTRE AGAINST MALNUTRITION (MeCAM), OGBUEFI REMMY NWEKE.
MMS plays a crucial role in supporting maternal health and foetal development, making it particularly beneficial for pregnant women. Studies have shown that MMS reduces the prevalence of anaemia, enhances immune function, and contributes to healthier birth outcomes, including improved birth weight and reduced risk of preterm delivery.
By addressing the micronutrient deficiencies that often arise during pregnancy, MMS helps to safeguard the well-being of both the mother and the developing baby, promoting optimal growth and reducing the risk of complications.
Globally, the integration of MMS into maternal health programmes is increasingly recognized as a cost-effective strategy to combat malnutrition and its associated health challenges. In regions where micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent, MMS complements efforts to improve food security and dietary diversity.
By strengthening public health initiatives, MMS not only supports individual maternal and child health but also contributes to broader goals of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and improving overall community well-being.
To this end, a day policy dialogue was held in Lagos State to discuss the importance of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) and get the buy-in of key stakeholders on Child Nutrition Funding (CNF) opportunity.
The event was hosted by the Lagos State Committee on Food and Nutrition in collaboration with Civil Society – Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) which brought together a diverse group of participants, including the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, government officials, representatives from civil society organizations, nutrition partners (Alive and Thrive, Nutrition International), healthcare professionals, media, representatives, and other key stakeholders.
The dialogue focused on the following objectives:
• To re-inform the policymakers on the nutrition situation in Lagos State, the role of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), and their roles in combatting the menace of malnutrition (especially through constituency projects).
• Secure commitments of state assembly members and other policy makers to improve domestic investment for MMS towards reduction of malnutrition via anaemia reduction.
Key discussions and outcomes from the policy dialogue included:
• The Lagos State Government appreciated the commitment of the CS-SUNN in the advocacy and Sensitization statewide about the implications of malnutrition and ensure that what they eat is nutrition enriched and well endowed.
• Stakeholders emphasized the importance of addressing the scourge of malnutrition to improve the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) among pregnant women as a strategy to prevent anaemia.
• The Civil Society – Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) highlighted the need for increased provision of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in Lagos to combat anaemia among pregnant women.
• Authorities need to urgently address anaemia by focusing on maternal and child malnutrition.
• Nationally, the survey showed that four out of every 10 children under five (40%) are stunted (an increase from the 37% stunting rate of 2023).
• According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023; stunted children under five is 40% in Nigeria.
- In Lagos we have Stunted children at 17.3% out of 5.5m;
- Wasted children is 6.0% for Lagos out of the 5.5m and 8% at national
- Underweight children is 14.3% while national is 27%
1. The Lagos State government should commit to the counterpart funding on MMS as the donors are ready to support
2. CS-SUNN and other Partners to follow up for the release of the matching fund of 100,000USD for the procurement of nutrition commodities approved by the State Governor.
3. The Media should see themselves as partners in the fight against anaemia among pregnant women by being consistent in reporting issues of MMS to draw the attention of government and policy makers on MMS funding.
CALL TO ACTION: The meeting, therefore, calls:
On Lagos State government to prioritize nutrition funding to improve nutrition indices in the state.
Adequate and early release of approved nutrition funding
The state should fast track the transfer of the counterpart funding for the procurement of MMS, Ready to use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), Ready to use Supplementary Food (RUSF); Micronutrient Powder (MNP )for Children under 5; Small Quantity-Lipid based Supplement (SQ-LNS) in the state, leveraging on the Child Nutrition Funding opportunity as soon as possible.
The State Government should leverage on the use of Social media to sensitize and disseminate the right information about MMS especially to the younger generation of breastfeeding and pregnant women.
The State should ensure that the Taskforce set up should see to the tracking and monitoring of the distribution, uptake and coverage and to come up with a scorecard.
Communique Team
- Mrs Taiwo Fadairo – LSMOH/SNO (State Nutrition Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health)
- Hon. Adebayo Azeez Aladeyelu – CEO/Executive Director at Health Awareness and Gender Advocacy Initiative (HAGAI)
- Pastor Dickson Dele Asaaju – CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria)
- Alhaji Imam Jelili Sulaiman – MSN/LOI (Muslim Society of Nigeria | League of Imams)
- Olawumi Ajayi - FHI 360 (Alive & Thrive)
- Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke – (National Coordinator, Media Centre Against Malnutrition (MeCAM)
- Lady Vicky Onyekuru – Secretary, Lagos CS-SUNN
- Dr. Funmi Ige – President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN Lagos)
Friday, December 6, 2024
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