Health officials in Pader District have intensified efforts to encourage pregnant women to eat nutritious foods and attend antenatal care services following the introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), a new intervention to improve maternal and child health.
The renewed awareness campaign comes amid concerns that poor nutrition during pregnancy continues to contribute to complications such as anemia, low birth weight, premature births, and stillbirths.
Health workers and community leaders raise concerns about ways of helping expectant mothers access accurate information, nutrition support, and antenatal care services.
Ambrose Ongwech, a maternal and child health expert in Pader District, says many women still struggle to meet the nutritional demands that come with pregnancy despite the critical role nutrition plays in the health of both mother and child.
He explains that proper nutrition supports the growth and development of the unborn baby while also helping mothers remain healthy throughout pregnancy.
Health officials appeal to religious leaders, cultural leaders, and other influential community members to help share accurate information and encourage mothers to seek services from health facilities.
Sulah Kaggwa, a Social Behaviour Change Officer at the Ministry of Health, says the government is working with partners, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), to raise awareness about the supplements across the Acholi Sub-region.
By URN
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