By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is distributing over 421 million tablets of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements , MMS, to pregnant women to improve maternal and child health in the country.
The Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, MMS, is for pregnant women across Nigeria, to address their nutritional needs and significantly reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency and anemia in women of reproductive age.
According to the ministry spokesperson, Ado Bako, the ministry is rolling out initiative is in line with the WHO recommendation in light of Global Nutritional Report 2022, which revealed that the country was a long way from reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age.
The National Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS, 2018 shows that in Nigeria Iron Deficiency Anemia IDA, remains the most common micronutrient deficiency affecting over 60% of pregnant women.
IDA puts women at a higher risk of severe health complications during pregnancy such as increase in the livelihood of low birth weight, stillbirths and developmental delays in children.
The ministry said that MMS offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges.
“The daily supplement containing 15 essential vitamins and minerals designed to be taken throughout pregnancy, has emerged as a cost-effective solution in global maternal health interventions with a proven ability to reduce the risk of low birth weight by 21% stillbirths by 9%, and small for gestational age (SGA) cases by 10%.”
MMS which is the Federal government’s strategy to enhance maternal and child health services , incorporated into the National Guidelines for the prevention and Control of Micronutrient Deficiencies and to improve nutrition as an integral part of antenatal care.
Distribution of MMS is taking place at primary health care centers, PHCs during routine antenatal services.
The national rollout of MMS is being coordinated through antenatal care, ANC, services, with distribution taking place at primary health centres, PHCs, during routine services.
The estimated demand for 2024 is approximately 421 million MMS tablets to meet the needs of pregnant women.
So far, over 1.3 million bottles have been distributed across 12 states, with an additional 3 million bottles scheduled for delivery by the end of September.
Meanwhile, the ministry said that the initiative is also part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goal to increase and prioritise local production of MMS in the country, as the Federal Government is working with local manufacturers to ensure sustained supply, and reduce importation of MMS, in order to strengthen the country’s health and economic sectors.
