By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Towards enhancing better health care outcomes especially as it affects pregnant women in Bauchi State, the State Government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Nutrition International, with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have launched a three year intervention titled “Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation” (MMS) Research Project.
In his address during the project launch held at the banquet of Government House Bauchi on Thursday 1st February, 2024, the State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed said that the MMS Project could not have come at a better time than now, especially as the State Government is doing everything possible, within it’s limited resources, to improve on the health care indices of the State.
Governor Mohammed also thanked the Federal Ministry of Health, Gates Foundation and the implementing partner of the MMS Project, Nutrition International for selecting Bauchi State to benefit from the three years intervention.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government Barr. Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim, further assured that the State Government has created the enabling environment for the successful implementation of the MMS Project.
In an introductory remark, Regional Director, Africa , Nutrition International, Nairobi Kenya, Evelyn Murey said that, for the three years timeframe of the project implementation, Nutrition International will be working closely with the Bauchi State Government and it’s relevant MDAs.
Murey said that the research project is focused on transitioning pregnant women from iron and folic acid supplementation to multiple micronutrient supplementation during antenatal care.
According to Murey, the project will not only introduce multiple micronutrient supplementation into routine antenatal care but will also identify solutions to optimise uptake among pregnant women to ensure improved pregnancy and birth outcome.
On why the change, the Regional Director said, “Antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation has been proven to be more effective and efficient than iron and folic acid supplementation in improving birth outcomes. It has also shown similar benefits in preventing maternal anaemia and is safe for mothers and babies”.
In a goodwill message during the project, representative of the Gates Foundation, Pharmacist Rabiu Fagge congratulated Bauchi State for being the first state to benefit from the MMS research project.
Fagge inforned the gathering that for the past ten years the BMG Foundation has been collaborating with Bauchi State Government towards improved maternal and child health and that the MMS Project is another component of health that will enhance nutritional intake of pregnant women in the State.
He then commended the Bauchi State Government for fulfilling its obligations by paying its counterpart funding into the primary health care basket funds which is aimed at strengthening healthcare outcomes in the State.
Fagge also expressed his hope that the State would demonstrate the same feat early in the year 2024.
Our correspondent reports that the three years MMS Research Project is being implemented by Nutrition International in the three Local Government Areas of Dass, Giade and Ganjuwa.
