Salisu Kabuga
About 370 pregnant women diagnosed with anaemia in Jigawa State have received medication under the Reducing Anaemia Project, implemented by the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, a non-governmental organisation.
The project, funded by the Latter-day Saints Charity, an international donor group, aimed to reduce the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and children under five in Kiyawa and Jahun Local Government Areas of the state.
According to the Head of Humanitarian Affairs at CARE, Mr Joel Musaruwa, who spoke during the closing ceremony of the project on Friday in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, the initiative provided essential healthcare services, promoted mother-to-mother groups, conducted nutrition demonstrations, and offered education and social support to improve the health of beneficiaries during pregnancy and beyond.
“The project also trained pregnant women in homestead gardening, enabling them to cultivate vegetables within their homes and secure a nutritious diet to combat anaemia,” Musaruwa said.
He noted that anaemia remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, particularly among pregnant women and children under five, and that the project was designed to address this challenge.
“The Reducing Anaemia Project is a clear demonstration of CARE’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children,” he added.
The project coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Akpelu, stated that the initiative aimed to promote the production and consumption of iron-rich foods and iron supplements among pregnant and lactating women, as well as households with children under five.
Akpelu emphasised that the project had made a significant impact in reducing anaemia among the target group, with beneficiaries expressing gratitude for the intervention.
“As the project comes to an end, we hope its impact will be sustained and that beneficiaries will continue to enjoy improved health and well-being,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, expressed gratitude for the medication and the training in homestead gardening, which had improved both her health and that of her unborn child.
Another beneficiary, Mariya Danlami, described the project as a lifesaver for her and her family, adding that she would continue to apply the skills she had learned.
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