Katsina Trains 240 Health Workers in Micronutrient Supplement

No fewer than 240 health workers across eight local government areas (LGAs) in Katsina State have commenced a two-day intensive training on the newly introduced Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) designed to combat pregnancy-related anemia and improve maternal health outcomes.
The training, which draws 30 participants each from Katsina, Daura, Batagarawa, Mashi, Mani, Kaita, Rimi and Charanchi LGAs and clusters them in Katsina, Kaita, Rimi and Daura, marks the first introduction of MMS into the state’s maternal nutrition programme.

Sessions are being held at the Medical and Health Workers Union Conference Hall, Sahara Suites Katsina, and Sahara Suites Daura.

Speaking during the opening session, the facilitator, Abdulhadi Abdulkadir from the state Nutrition Unit, said the programme represents a significant shift from the long-used iron and folic acid tablets, which contain only two micronutrients.

The new MMS formulation provides at least eight essential micronutrients, offering broader nutritional support for pregnant mothers.

According to him, the transition to MMS aligns with global recommendations and will take effect ahead of the upcoming Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) scheduled for the 29th of this month.

“This is the first time we are conducting this kind of training. Participants must stay attentive to gain the new skills and knowledge required for proper administration of MMS,” he said.

Abdulkadir noted that the intervention is crucial, as recent survey findings show over 365,000 pregnant women in Katsina State are anemic, underscoring the urgent need for improved maternal nutrition.

He emphasized that malnutrition is not limited to children, adding that adults especially pregnant women can also suffer micronutrient deficiencies due to poor diet quality.

The transition from iron folate to MMS is supported by Nutrition International in collaboration with the Katsina State Pharmaceutical Agency.

He called on participants to take the training seriously and ensure the correct use of the supplement once rolled out.

He also urged pregnant women who will receive MMS to cooperate fully and use the product as advised to improve their health outcomes.

“This programme is for their own benefit. Once implementation begins, beneficiaries should make sure they take the supplements as given,” he added.