UNICEF reports that 56.9% of children under five in Kano State suffer from stunting due to malnutrition. The organization emphasizes the importance of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in preventing stunting and improving pregnancy outcomes. Stakeholders are urged to support MMS interventions to combat malnutrition and reduce child mortality rates.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over the alarming rate of stunted growth among children under five in Kano State, with 56.9% affected due to malnutrition. According to Oluniyi Oyedokun, a UNICEF nutrition specialist, one out of every two children in the state is stunted. Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Kaduna, Oyedokun emphasized the critical role of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in improving pregnancy outcomes and preventing stunting.
The meeting, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, sought to scale up MMS interventions in Kano, one of the five Nigerian states benefiting from the project. Oyedokun urged stakeholders to address anemia in pregnancy through social behavioral change and to create an environment conducive to the acceptance and implementation of MMS. He stressed the importance of good nutrition for women of childbearing age, particularly during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, which includes the nine months of pregnancy and the first two years after birth.
Nasiru Mahmoud, Director-General of Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, represented by Ahmed Habib, praised UNICEF and other partners for their commitment to improving maternal and child health in Kano. Mahmoud highlighted the potential of effective MMS interventions to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the state. The meeting concluded with a call for increased collaboration and resource mobilization to ensure the success of the MMS project in Kano.
