Ministry partners Airtel on malnutrition
The Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Airtel Nigeria has launched mNutrition, a wireless service aimed at utilising mobile phones in tackling the burden of malnutrition in the country. Speaking during the launch of the programme in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said that one third (33 percent) of children under five […]
The Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Airtel Nigeria has launched mNutrition, a wireless service aimed at utilising mobile phones in tackling the burden of malnutrition in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the programme in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said that one third (33 percent) of children under five years of age in Nigeria suffer from chronic malnutrition or stunting, with half of the children in the poorest 40 percent of households suffering from stunting.
He said that children can lose up to 10 intelligent quotient (IQ) points if they do not receive adequate nutrition and care in the first 1000 days of their lives, adding that the early damage which is irreversible can cause impaired cognitive development, reduced learning ability and lost productivity in adult years.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria,Segun Ogunsanya who was represented by General Manager, Government and Environment Affairs, Airtel Nigeria, Kehinde Sanusi, said the organization was committed towards providing technology driven solutions to aid health care services and delivery in Nigeria.
He said : “As an organisation we are excited to partner with the Federal Ministry of Health and GSMA to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians especially the women and children who are an integral part of our society. We assure Nigerians that with the Airtel 321 service, a free on-demand call-in service; which is available in English as well as our local languages,Nigerians can be guaranteed a higher standard of living”.
The 321 service provides public service information for individuals and communities across Nigeria on topics such as health, nutrition, family planning,sanitation, and good governance, among others.
The mNutrition programme seeks to support the scale-up of nutrition,and maternal and child health through developing commercially sustainable health services that meet public health needs.