From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Senior technical advisor of Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBC) of FHI/360 Alive & Thrive, Dr. Auwalu Kawu, has disclosed that the media are key stakeholders in scaling up Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), to tackle the issues of anemia in women and pregnant adolescents.
He asserted this at a two-day media dialogue in promoting MMS for maternal-infant young child nutrition (MIYCN) organized by FHI/360 Alive & Thrive in Kaduna yesterday.
According to him, with the power of the Mass Media, they can create the needed awareness and enabling environment to ensure the speedy switch from Iron Frolic Acid (IFAs) to MMS in fighting the growing faltering anemia and multiple micronutrient deficiencies among women.
Dr. Auwalu also stressed that media behavior change messages and communications need to target and aim at influencing long-term behavior, provide detailed information about MMS benefits, usage, and health outcomes, and persuade, motivate, and encourage pregnant women and their families.
He explained that MMS contain 15 essential vitamins and minerals and are a safe and effective way to improve the diets and nutritional status of pregnant women
He adds: “eatingwell in pregnancy typically means increasing intake of routinely consumed foods, namely rice, yam, and cassava base as opposed to seeking foods with a higher protein and micronutrient content, such as meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruit.
According to him, anemia was often attributed to a poor diet and hard work.
“While the majority of women had heard of iron and folic acid and other “micronutrients”, only a few of them were unable to mention any examples of micronutrients they know.
“Poor knowledge on optimal diets for pregnant mothers, fatigue, not having money to buy food, not having different foods at home, lack of support, and difficulty remembering to eat more.
“IFA supplementation has been widely used to combat iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in Nigeria.
It has significantly contributed to reducing maternal anemia and improving birth outcomes.
“However, IFA only addresses iron and folic acid deficiencies, leaving out other essential nutrients, pregnant women need a broader range of vitamins and minerals for optimal health, which IFA does not provide.
“MMS provides 15 essential vitamins and minerals for both mother and baby, MMS reduces the risk of anemia, low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth more effectively than IFA.
“MMS Provides broader nutritional support, including vitamins A, C, D, zinc, calcium, and more, to improve cognitive development in children and reduce neonatal mortality.
“It is cost-effective in the long term with significant reductions in adverse pregnancy outcomes.”
In his remarks, the program officer of Alive and Thrive, Mr. Isaiah Ud,e, said dialogue was part of key mandates to strengthen local capacity towards MIYCN interventions by government and communities and enhance the coverage and visibility of maternal health through the promotion of MMS.
According to him, the objectives of the meeting increasing awareness to reach a wider audience to inform about the importance of MMS for pregnant women, to improve Knowledge, and to Provide factual and clear information on the benefits of MMS and its impact on maternal and child health and change attitudes to Address misconceptions and promote a positive outlook on MMS among pregnant women and their families.
Speaking earlier, the Kaduna State coordinator of civil-society scaling up nutrition in Nigeria CS-SUNN, Miss Jessica Bartholomew, thanked Alive and Thrive for bringing the media together to have an open-mind discussion on MMS, especially in the scaling up the maternal infant and young child nutrition MIYCN via the multiple micronutrient supplements.
She therefore urged the media to participate in the dialogue as they are the agents that will create the enabling environment for micronutrient supplementation.
