Health experts and advocates have urged governments to increase supplies of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant women to reduce maternal deaths and improve child health.
The call was made in an update issued by the Nigerian Goal Keepers Community on Friday in Abuja, which highlighted shortages of the supplements and gaps in maternal nutrition.
According to the update, iron-deficiency anaemia affects an estimated 60 per cent of pregnant women in Nigeria.
Ayodele Renner, a consultant paediatrician, said the supplements provided essential nutrients for pregnant women and their unborn babies, helping to prevent iron deficiency and support babies’ cognitive development.
Renner said about 1.3 million Nigerian women had received MMS since their introduction in 2021, while another three million had benefited through UNICEF support.
However, he said access remained limited compared with the estimated 12 million pregnancies recorded annually in Nigeria.
Renner described the shift from iron and folic acid supplements to MMS as an affordable intervention, noting that each pill could cost about N27. He urged the government to invest more in expanding access.
Hauwa Abbas, a maternal health specialist and advocate, said pregnant women needed essential vitamins and minerals to support the development of their babies’ brains, vital organs and blood supply.
She said wider access to MMS could help prevent severe anaemia, reduce the risk of stunted growth and improve health outcomes for mothers and children.
A study by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), cited in the update, found that 80 per cent of pregnant women surveyed had experienced MMS stockouts at health facilities.
The study also found that 25 per cent of healthcare facilities took more than two months to replenish supplies after stockouts, further restricting access.
Nigeria adopted MMS in 2021, with a target of reaching 70 per cent coverage by 2030. However, donor supplies remain insufficient to meet the needs of millions of pregnancies each year, according to the update.
The update put the annual number of pregnancies in Nigeria at between 7.8 million and 12 million, underscoring the need for sustainable funding and reliable supply systems.
To address the shortages, advocates called for MMS to be formally incorporated into routine antenatal care guidelines and made a standard component of maternal healthcare.
They also urged federal and state governments to allocate dedicated funding for the supplements to ensure their consistent availability in primary healthcare centres and other facilities.
Other recommendations included expanding local production to reduce reliance on imports and distribution delays, as well as raising awareness among healthcare workers and communities about the benefits of micronutrient supplementation.
The advocates said sustained government funding, reliable supply chains and public awareness were essential to expanding access and improving maternal and child health.
