The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) and UNICEF are taking plausible steps to scale up ‘Multiple  Micronutrient Supplements (MMS)’ to prevent anaemia.

The health commissioner, Umma Ahmed, at a two-day stakeholders’ meeting in Zaria LGA, in Kaduna, urged them to scale up MMS to reduce the negative effects of anaemia on pregnant women.

Ms Ahmed said the government and the stakeholders were  targeting every pregnant woman and children ”because they all need MMS.”

According to her, Kaduna has 76.1 per cent of anaemia in women and children under five, where more than 56.1 per cent of pregnant women have it.

She said 22.1 per cent of men were suffering from it and above 40 per cent of young girls.

Ms Ahmed opined that the data showed a disproportionate value, where men who earn income have access to what they want to eat.

”But women who have to eat based on what is cooked in the house have the worst values. It indicates that there are gaps. Our mission is to bring it down to zero if possible and to change the negative behaviour, encouraging positive practices for their good health,” she said.

The health commissioner said they hoped to get the supplements as soon as possible, adding that the stakeholder’s engagement was to get everybody on board.

These include representatives from various ministries, such as agriculture, health, planning officers, and CSOs.

“The federal government has made available enough funds to secure as much as possible to distribute to the pregnant women. For now, we already have a stock of MMS, and this first phase will last till 2025, so it is just to get everybody on board.

“The stakeholders will draw a work plan for distribution, community engagement, advocacy, transportation, supply, and health education in the 23 LGA across the state,” Ms Ahmed said.

(NAN)