The Kano State Government says it’s committed in addressing the scourge of malnutrition by addressing anaemia amount pregnant women in the state.
The state’s commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Musa Shanono, said the government is releasing the counter part funding for the state to address the negative nutrition indices for the state.
He stated this at a policy dialogue on the Uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) to Prevent Anaemia among pregnant women, held at the Tahir Quest Palace, Kano, on Friday.
“We key it into our budget (funds for nutrition commodities and counterpart funds) to make sure that the state benefits and reduce the negative indices of malnutrition in the state.
“The state government is committed in supporting what will add value to its residents as a State. The State will do all the needful”, Mr Shanono said.
Also, the state’s Nutrition Officer, Rakiya Balarabe, said will commence the distribution of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement to pregnant women to prevent Anaemia and other nutritional deficiencies.
Mrs Balarabe said the state governor Abba Yusuf, has approved for the release of a matching fund of N637, 983,667 for the procurement of nutrition commodities
“The state Ministry of Health will begin distribution of height board and weighing scales to some secondary and primary healthcare facilities to ensure proper growth monitoring of children under five so as to know their nutritional status.
Participants who spoke at the event priorities imperative of addressing the scourge of malnutrition on the uptake of Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) among pregnant women to prevent anaemia.
The Civil Society – Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) suggested that Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) needs to be provided more in Kano to address the scourge of anaemia among pregnant women.
The CS-SUNN acting programme manager, Ishola Kunle, said the authorities need to urgently address anaemia by focusing on maternal and child malnutrition.
The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023, revealed that 51.9 per cent of under-five-year children in Kano are affected by stunting due to malnutrition.
The NDHS survey, revealed that about four out of every 10 children in the state (38.4 per cent) are underweight with almost two out of every 10 (10.4 per cent) suffering wasting.
