THE MBAISE POLICY ROUNDTABLE “HEALTHY PREGNANCY, HEALTHY BABY INITIATIVE” DISTRIBUTES PRENATAL VITAMINS FOR ONE THOUSAND PREGNANT WOMEN IN MBAISE.
Mbaise Imo State, Nigeria, May 4, 2022: The Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR), a non-governmental organization with offices in Owerri Imo State, Nigeria and New York USA, in partnership with Gift Health Plus (GHP) Inc, a New Jersey, USA based non-profit organization, have successfully set in motion the distribution of 90.000 doses of the United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation (UNIMMAP) prenatal vitamins, free of charge to 1000 pregnant women in Mbaise, to ameliorate adverse pregnancy outcomes. This was accomplished during the MPR “Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby Initiative”, coordinated by the Project Lead Dr Chika Okoro, MD, MPH and Chief Program Director Dr Jude Iheoma, PhD.
Ahead of the kick off, a planning and strategy session was held at the prestigious Chris VI hotels at Ahiara Mbaise, Imo State, for the local organizing committee, to solidify logistics and rules of engagement. Those who attended were Dr Iheoma, Dr Okoro, Hon Uche Chris Agomuo, Hon Vita Nwaodu, Hon Uche Agomuo and the three Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), namely Chidiebere Ibe, Louis Opara represented by Mrs Ifeyinwa Onuoha and Mr John kennedy Onyeocha, from the three local government areas of Mbaise- Aboh, Ahiazu & Ezinihitte respectively.
Subsequently a training session was convened at the Ahiazu LGA headquarters, to orientate about 100 healthcare personnel from15 health centres across Mbaise, where the pregnant women received their drugs and counselling.
The participants were addressed by some members of the local organizing team, namely Dr Iheoma, Chief B.C. Nwachukwu, Hon Uche Chris Agomuo, Mr Onyeocha and Chairman of MPR Professor Eddie Oparaoji. During his remarks Professor Oparaoji expressed gratitude to the participants, for volunteering their professional skills to improve health outcomes for pregnant women across Mbaise. He observed that by helping to make these high quality prenatal vitamins available, poor dietary quality, micronutrient deficiencies, which underlie the anemia, and other public health problem of low birth weight or small for gestational age, among pregnant women in Mbaise and other parts of Nigeria, would be mitigated.
The health centers in the 3 LGAs from where the prenatal vitamins were distributed from are as follows:
a. Aboh-Mbaise LGA: Nkwogwu Health Center, Enyiogugu Health Center, Lorji Health Center, Mbutu Health Center and Ibeku Health Center
b. Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA: Nnarambia Health Center, Ogbe-Ahiara Health Center, Amuzi Health Center, Umuokirika Health Center and Umuchieze Health Center.
c. Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA: Ezeagbogu Health Center, Umuore Eziudo Health Center, Amumara Health Center, Onicha Health Center, and Oboama Health Center.
The program was well received, according to feedback from beneficiaries exemplified by comment from a well respected woman leader and former two-times Nigeria’s Federal Minister, Professor Viola Onwuliri who stated that “we are happy to have a compassionate and caring organization like MPR. The women, we are very happy with this program. God bless you all. Prof Oparaoji and all donors, Chukwu gozie unu o”.
The Mbaise patriots and dignitaries who sponsored the project include; Hon Ken Akpim, Dr Christian Onwukwe, Her Excellency Prof. Viola Onwuliri, High Chief Eugene Oledinma, Mr Leo Okoro, Dr Agu Iheagwara, Mrs Ngozi Onuoha, Mr. Chukwudi Unegbu, Prof. Eddie Oparaoji, Atty Paschal Ukpabi, Dr Chioma Enyeribe, Mr Celestine Opara, Mr Amarachi Ogu, Mr Vin Akas, Vice Chancellor Prof INS Dozie, High Chief Malarchy Orji, Dr Chiemezie Amadi, Mr McCartan Onyekwere, Dim Chijike Ndukwu, Mr Dozie Onwuliri, Mr Okechukwu Ikonne, Mr Andy Eke, Mr Tony Asoluka Emeribe, Rev Fr Las Nwoga, Mr Vin Okoroha, Mr Augustine Mgbemere, Oke Nze &:Lolo Spencer Izuwa, Dr Law Osondu, Dr Vitalis Ojiegbe, Barr Oby Onyeulor, Atty Ben Onyenacho , Mr. Goddy Okoro, Mr. Emma Onyeukwu and Engr Joe Nwoga.
MPR is a non-governmental organization with offices in Owerri Imo State, Nigeria and New York USA. She is the premier pre-eminent Mbaise Public Policy and Business Advisory Council in the World focused entirely on the development of Mbaise and Imo State, through the facilitation of financial and in-kind resources, private investments and private public partnerships
MPR 