LIVE UPDATES
*Say supplements are critical for healthy baby, mother
For a healthy pregnancy journey for both mother and child, experts in the medical field have advised that multiple micronutrients supplements should be taken by pregnant women.
They added that proper nutrition during pregnancy is crucial for the health of both mother and child.
Speaking at a Media Roundtable organised by FHI 360 in Lagos, the experts emphasised the importance of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant women in Nigeria even as they highlighted the significant role of micronutrients, essential vitamins and minerals required in small quantities.
Lagos State Coordinator for FHI 360/Alive &Thrive, Olawimi Ajayi, said the pregnant women ought to have an increase nutritional intake.
She said, "While macronutrients like carbohydrates are needed in larger quantities, micronutrients such as iron and folate are essential for fetal development. Iron deficiency is particularly prevalent among pregnant women in Nigeria, hence the need for supplementation."
According to Ajayi, a significant percentage of Nigerian women are underweight and anaemic, posing significant health risks.
"These deficiencies can lead to severe consequences, including congenital defects and stillbirths. Poor dietary practices, such as limited food variety and improper food preparation, further exacerbate these challenges."
She however highlighted alarming statistics, saying that as of 2018, 12.1% of women in Nigeria were underweight, and a staggering 58% were anemic.
She said by 2021, the figures had not improved significantly, with 32% of pregnant women and 23% of women of reproductive age still suffering from anemia.
“A 95% folate deficiency among women of reproductive age is particularly concerning, as it can lead to severe health issues such as congenital defects and stillbirths,” she warned.
“In Nigeria, diets are often low in essential micronutrients, not necessarily because of the quality of food, but due to poor handling and cooking practices,” Ajayi explained.
Addressing this issue, the Lagos State Ministry of Health Nutrition Officer, Mrs Fadairo Taiwan, said the ministry had been distributing Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) through public health facilities, including general hospitals, Maternal and Child Centres (MCCs), and Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) to avert child mortality rate and for healthy pregnancy journey.
She said, “Our goal is to ensure that every woman of reproductive age, particularly those who are pregnant, has access to these vital supplements.
"The push for MMS is part of a broader strategy to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Lagos State. By addressing micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation, the ministry aims to reduce low birth weight, combat malnutrition, and ultimately improve the health of both mothers and their babies."
