Lagos Strengthens Fight Against Malnutrition

The Lagos State Government, through Health District III, has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing malnutrition and improving maternal and child healthcare outcomes with the distribution of essential healthcare commodities to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Ibeju-Lekki, Eti-Osa and Epe.

Speaking during the distribution exercise held on Thursday at the District Headquarters, Ikoyi, the Permanent Secretary, Health District III, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke disclosed that the District has recorded significant progress in the fight against child malnutrition through the District’s quarterly nutrition intervention programme.

She added that the prevalence of wasting among children in the District has reduced from 15% to 8%, attributing the improvement to consistent government support, regular nutrition screening and effective community-based interventions.

Dr. Adeleke explained that nutrition officers at the PHCs would continue to conduct food demonstration classes for mothers and caregivers using the cooking utensils provided.

She stated further that the District is intensifying efforts to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening the prevention and management of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) by distributing calibrated obstetric drapes to PHCs to enable healthcare workers to accurately measure blood loss, facilitate prompt diagnosis and improve emergency management of PPH.

She also emphasised the importance of family planning in promoting healthy birth spacing, improving maternal health and ensuring better outcomes for mothers and their children.

“I am calling on residents to improve their health-seeking behaviour by visiting the nearest PHC to access these lifesaving services and to take full advantage of the comprehensive services available at PHCs because the facilities now provide quality, affordable and people-centred healthcare in line with global best practices”, she said.

In response, the Apex Nurse of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, Nr. Eunice Shofolahan expressed appreciation to the government for the sustained efforts in providing quality healthcare delivery to residents and promised that the healthcare workers would ensure the

judicious use of the equipment.

The commodities distributed included family planning commodities and consumables, cooking utensils for nutrition food demonstration classes and calibrated obstetric drapes for the prevention and management of Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH).