As part of efforts to prevent maternal and infant mortality in Niger state, atleast one million under five children including three hundred thousand pregnant women are to benefit from free nutritional commodities.
The State Nutrition Officer, Asmau Mohammed made this disclosure at the flag off ceremony for the provision of basic package of nutrition service for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under the age of 5 organiser by the Africa Youth Growth Foundation (AYGF) in Lapai local government area.
She said although, the programme by AYGF will cover 13 LGAs but that 315,000 pregnant women and over one million under 5 children will benefit from the free commodities because we are trying to reach our target population of 100 percent.
She however disclosed that the projection for each year is 12 percent.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Health Muhammad Makusidi who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Tiffin urged women to come out enmass to ensure they benefit from the commodities, adding that “Government has provided these nutritional commodities free of charge”.
He added that the state government is doing all it can to ensure the right nutritional supplements get to the women to ensure safer pregnancy and put an end to anaemia.
Earlier, while disclosing that it works in 13 local government areas, the Executive Director, AYGF, Dr. Arome Salifu, said “we are making efforts to address the issue of malnutrition, the supply of medication free of charge.