Migori: Expectant mothers urged to take iron, folic acid as rising cases of anemia cause concern

Migori county nutrition coordinator Caroline Odete said the county recorded 4,800 cases of anemia among pregnant mothers last year. 

The cases have been linked to poor nutrition.

Odete said, “Mothers need to eat a balanced diet both during and after giving birth.”

She added the importance of taking iron and folic acid supplements to help maintain healthy blood levels.

Odete added that some mothers are unaware that some supplements such as folic acid are distributed at no cost in some government facilities.

Expectant mothers are advised to take folic acid to reduce the chances of the child getting complications such as spina bifida, a neural tube defect that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. 

Statistics have shown that between 40 to 60 percent of pregnant mothers in Kenya suffer from anemia at one point in their pregnancies. 

Globally, close to 2 billion people suffer from anemia.