By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
Nutrition Stakeholders have appealed to Federal and State governments to include Multiple Micronutrient Supplements in the essential medicine list.
The stakeholders include: journalists, UNICEF, Civil Society-scaling Up Nutrition (CS-SUNN), and members of civil society organisations.
They made the appeal in a communique issued at the end of a two-day capacity building training for journalists with the theme, “Strengthening Media Capacity for improved Visibility of Anaemia Reduction through scale-up of MMS in Nigeria”, signed by Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary, CS-SUNN.
The group noted that non-commitment to funding of MMS by most state governments despite readiness of donor agencies to support cause is responsible for the unavailability of the supplements.
According to them, apart from being cost effective, MMS has also been confirmed by the WHO to be the solution to the high rate of anaemia in pregnant women, women of reproductive age and children.
They urged state governments to commit to counterpart funding for MMS via the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund and that MMS should be included in recurring budget allocations and procurement plans at federal, state and local government levels.
“Government at all levels should prioritize MMS funding to reduce anaemia among pregnant women in Nigeria.
“Journalists and CSOs should be intentional on MMS campaigns using multi-media platforms to disseminate their reports.
“The media should intensify partnership in the fight
against anaemia in pregnant women and focus more on writing human-angle stories on MMS.
“Journalists should link IFAS with MMS in their reportage to educate people on the transition. Stories from Media Practitioners on MMS should be compelling and solutions-based.” The communique added.
The workshop amongst other things, was aimed at improving the understanding of the media on the impacts of micronutrient deficiencies on women and adolescent girls in Nigeria, according the organisers.
