By Segun Babatunde Awofadeji, Bauchi
In a bid to improve maternal and child health indices in Bauchi State, Fhi360 Alive and Thrive Project pledges to build capacity of health care workers and community volunteers on the right intake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, MMS.
The State Coordinator of the project, Mr Chidi Asimobi stated this at a one-day Inception Meeting of Scale Up of MMS, organized by the state government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) funded Fhi360 Alive and Thrive Project.
Asimobi who said the training would be provided for the targets cross the twenty local government areas of the state, noted that the move was aimed at strengthening interpersonal and community mobilization towards ensuring appropriate use of the supplement.
The supplements which is targeted primarily at pregnant and lactating women, aims to fill nutritional gaps in their diet, support overall health and well-being, prevent or treat micronutrient deficiencies, improve immune function and energy levels as well as enhance cognitive function and development.
Asimobi said the training would enable the health workers to do some checks to determine the appropriate dosage of MMS for individual needs.
He explained that the existing community volunteers would also be acquainted with the right information and they would be wearing a piece of clothing with an inscription “Ask Me About MMS, I’m Here To Help”, so that anyone seeking clarification would get adequate explanation at that very moment.
The State Coordinator of the BMGF funded Fhi360 Alive and Thrive Project assured continued support to the state government particularly on the promotion of Maternal and Young Child Nutrition (MYCN) service.
Speaking, the Managing Director, Bauchi State Drugs and Medical Consumable Management Agency, Abdulkadir Ahmed said the 134,280 bottles of MMS received from UNICEF were safely kept, assuring its total protection against theft or misappropriation.
The Executive Chairman, State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed commended UNICEF, Fhi360 Alive and Thrive Project, Nutrition International and other Implementing Partners for their numerous interventions in the state.
Some of the pregnant women interviewed, Maryam Ali Dass and Aishatu Isa Muhammad from Wintin Dada and Ibrahim Bako areas in Bauchi metropolis, who acknowledged the unquantifiable importance of MMS in preventing Anemia assured to make good use of the 180 tablets bottle for their health and that of babies.
The meeting was attended by stakeholders from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies. END
