Bukola Afeni
The Executive Secretary CSUNN, Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, has emphasized the need for the country to upscale Multiple MicroNutrient Supplementation, MMS, to prevent anemia among pregnant women and young girls, which will also boost their health during delivery.
He made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting for the review and validation of the National Guideline on Women and Girls Empowerment for Optimal Nutrition Draft Agenda in Abuja.
The Executive Secretary hinted that anemia is a pandemic and over 50 percent of women are suffering from anemia in the country.
“Anemia in Nigeria currently among women is a pandemic in itself, we have over 50% of women who are anemic. The truth is that most of the food women consume do not contain the required nutrient to produce the red blood cells, and the rest of them that their body needs to perform effectively.
“Multiple MicroNutrient Supplementation will aid in addressing nutrition issues. Even when you take adequate diet and the rest of them, you need adequate supplementation.Women need it to ensure that they get adequate dosage of iron that their body need to perform effectively, especially the pregnant mothers, and even the adolescent girls”.
He added that the National Guideline on Women and Girls Empowerment for Optimal Nutrition Draft Agenda is meant to ensure that across sectors different interventions, and recommendations are put in place regarding nutrition.
“ It will promote coordination and synergy across sectors domiciled in Ministry of Women Affairs, who will oversee implementation, and liaise with other sectors to make sure that nutrition interventions captures all women, including mothers, adolescent girls and those who are not even interested in becoming mothers.
The Regional Manager, North Central Region of the Bank of Industry, Mrs Ogo Ifeoma Akabogu, said the guideline is essential for all agencies, partners, and stakeholders who are interested in financial empowerment of girls and women.
She added that the BOI is so passionate about women empowerment and inclusion and always eager to support their cause.
“We have a gender desk on women financial empowerment, it’s a very important unit in our organization. We partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to develop a funding scheme, specifically and strictly for women ”, she said.
