Stakeholders Seek Ways To Reduce Anemia Among Pregnant Women In Nigeria

Stakeholders at a 2-day strengthening Media capacity training for Improved Visibility of Anemia Reduction Through Scale-up Of MMS in Nigeria have called for support to reduce anemia among pregnant women by 50% to achieve the 2030 (SDG 2030) target.

Those who spoke in Abuja, the event organized by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) noted that Nigeria has the third-highest maternal mortality ratio (512 /
100,000.

At a presentation tagged, “The Child Nutrition Fund and Anemia prevention-Role of Media, the UNICEF Nutrition Officer, Yadika Charles said for Nigeria to meet the World Health Assembly /SDG Target for anemia there was the need for a concerted effort and renewed strategies.

He called on the federal and state governments to leverage the introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to strengthen the Antenatal Care platform to deliver high-impact maternal nutrition interventions.

While calling for an enabling environment, said the government needed to Improve policy implementation using data and evidence at the national and sub-national levels.

”Preventing malnutrition amongst women, children, and adolescents with treatment as the last resort by strengthening the health, food, and social protection systems to deliver high-impact nutrition services at scale,” he added.

In a remark, the Executive Secretary, CS-SUNN, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo observed that Anemia’s impact on health, cognitive development, and overall productivity was a barrier Nigeria must dismantle for the prosperity and well-being of the communities.

”Today, we stand at the crossroads of an urgent and collective challenge in the reduction of anemia, a hidden hunger that affects millions, particularly women and children, across our vibrant nation.”

Mr Sunday Okoronkwo called on the media to join hands in a concerted effort to amplify the message and that would scale up MMS.

”CS-SUNN, through this initiative, aims to empower you, our esteemed media professionals, with the knowledge, tools, and resources to effectively communicate the importance of MMS and nutrition interventions.”

” Your voices will echo in homes, policy chambers, and health institutions, igniting action and fostering accountability,” he added.

On her part, the Head, Food and Nutrition Division, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Mrs Chito Nelson noted that Micronutrient deficiency also known as hidden hunger is of public health importance in Nigeria.

”This is a form of malnutrition, It results when any of the micronutrients required for the normal functioning of the body is inadequate or is lacking in the body.”

She said Nigeria currently loses US$1.5 billion in GDP annually due to micronutrient deficiencies alone.

”The losses to individuals from undernutrition in low-income countries is 10% or more of lifetime earnings, this results in economic growth foregone and lost investments in human capital.”

Speaking on the consequences of anemia on the mother, she said Maternal and fetal well-being are adversely affected.

”Increased Morbidity and fetal mortality, Pregnant women experience breathing difficulties, fainting, tiredness, palpitation, and sleep difficulties.”

”Increased risk of developing perinatal infection, Pre-eclampsia, Complication of labour and even death, Postpartum cognitive impairment,” she added.