FHI 360 ALIVE AND THRIVE INITIATIVE SENSITISES MEDIA ON IMPORTANCE OF MULTIPLE MICRONUTRIENTS SUPPLEMENTS (MMS) FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

BY ADERONKE FAKEYE . 08053912959.

In a collaborative effort with the Lagos State Government Ministry of Health, the FHI 360 Alive and Thrive Initiative held a one-day roundtable with media stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women. The event, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, took place on August 28, 2024, at the Sheraton Hotels in Ikeja, Lagos.The primary goal of the event was to educate the public, particularly pregnant women, about the benefits of MMS, which are available for free at all Lagos State Government primary health care centers and general hospitals. Olawumi Ajayi, the State Coordinator of the FHI 360 Alive and Thrive Project and a clinical dietician, introduced the initiative’s focus on combating child undernutrition through improved infant and young child feeding practices. She emphasized the critical role of MMS in enhancing maternal and child health outcomes by addressing micronutrient deficiencies.Ajayi highlighted that MMS, which includes essential nutrients such as iron, folic acid, and thirteen additional vitamins and minerals recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, can significantly reduce anemia and low birth weight among newborns. She advised pregnant women to take the MMS daily, noting that it should not be consumed with tea, coffee, or calcium-rich foods to ensure optimal iron absorption.Mrs. Taiwo Fadare, the State Nutrition Officer for the Lagos State Government Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of MMS in reducing the number of small-for-gestational-age births and stillbirths by up to 80%. She reiterated that the supplements are available for free at Public health centers across Lagos State.The event concluded with Ann Olawunmi Daniel urging media representatives to inform the public about the benefits of MMS and the importance of maternal nutrition. She encouraged the media to Prioritize health issues to effectively shape Public Opinion and promote the well-being of pregnant women and their babies. She spoke extensively about making use of multiple source to create awareness to the general Public on MMS reporting. She enjoined all Media representatives to put important health issues on front burner as the Mass Media have the capacity to shape Public Opinion on topical issues. “Therefore information about malnutrition, nutrients deficiencies in pregnant women and the effect should be spread across social media for it to be avoided” she said.She enjoined all journalist present to regularly report, Publish and collate news and Publications from all Media sources to relate the importance of MMS in the state and country as a whole.This initiative marks a significant step towards improving maternal and child health in Lagos State and addressing the broader issue of maternal malnutrition in Nigeria.