Lagos Begins Distribution Of Food Packs To Indigent Pregnant Women

(L-R) Consultant on MICHD, Dr. Eniola Erinoso; Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, and Executive Chairman Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Shola Sobowale presenting the food packs and supplements to one of the MICHD beneficiaries (Third From Left)Indigent pregnant women under the State’s Mother, Infant and Child Development (MICHD) Programme have been enjoined to ensure judicious consumption and shun profligacy in the use of food items made available for the proper development of their babies, while also encouraging them to embrace family planning.

The Special Adviser to the Governor, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, gave the advice at an event organised by the State Government to mark the commencement of distribution of food packs and supplements to selected expectant mothers at Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area Health Centre, Ipaja, Lagos.

Princess Adebowale explained that the MICHD programme was conceptualised to boost neonatal brain development from conception to birth and also assist the less privileged as well as pregnant women living below the poverty line within and around Lagos State in order to ensure that they have all their nutritional needs met.

She said: “This programme is a bold attempt to provide women across Lagos State with basic food items during pregnancy towards ensuring that both the growing fetuses and the poor expectant mothers have access to nutritious food needed for the healthy development of the baby’s brain and the well-being of the expectant mother”.

“This is intended to aid proper brain development of the fetuses whilst serving as a preventative security tool for raising civically responsible citizens”, Adebowale added.

The Special Adviser revealed that a total of 570 women across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State are to benefit from the launch phase of the programme, stressing that a vital component of the benefits is the enrollment of the pregnant women on the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (ILERA EKO).  Recall that MICHD, an initiative of the Office of Civic Engagement, was launched by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in September, 2021.