One thing is common among the women: the benefits of daily Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) far outweigh those of the traditional iron and folic acid combination.

For a 31-year-old mother of two, Mrs Kafayat Akinpelu, her second pregnancy was remarkably healthier than her first.

“I used it during pregnancy when my blood level was low. Unlike my first pregnancy, I was healthy throughout, and after delivery at PHC Foko, people admired my baby’s skin. He was beautiful to behold,” Mrs Akinpelu recounted.

Thirty-four-year-old Mrs Memunat Anibijuwon is currently pregnant with her fourth child. She delivered her previous babies at a mission home and had never been comfortable taking haematinics. Even when she was given Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), she was initially reluctant.

“When I told my husband, he explained that MMS would benefit both the baby and me. He encouraged me to take it. Afterwards, I realised I was eating and sleeping better. In fact, the supplement reduced my nausea and vomiting. I feel much stronger compared to my previous pregnancies,” she said.

Mrs Anibijuwon, now in her sixth month of pregnancy, said her last Packed Cell Volume (PCV) reading was 38 per cent.

The Community Health Officer at Iware Primary Healthcare Centre in Afijio Local Government Area, Mrs Temitope Ogunkunle, explained that antenatal care enrolment has increased significantly at the facility, largely because of the growing awareness of the benefits of MMS among pregnant women.

According to her, monthly antenatal registrations at the centre have risen from between 10 and 15 women to more than 30 women, as the supplements are provided free of charge and are only available at designated primary healthcare centres in the state.

Similarly, the Officer-in-Charge of Foko PHC and Community Health Extension Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Ogunwunmiju, said more women are encouraging others to register for antenatal care at government health facilities after experiencing the benefits of MMS.

“Many women take their MMS faithfully after counselling, and the testimonies have been encouraging. Some women even come from distant places, including Abeokuta, to register for antenatal care so they can benefit from the supplements,” Ogunwunmiju said.

She explained that MMS contains 14 essential micronutrients, making it more beneficial than taking only iron and folic acid tablets.

Ogunwunmiju added that antenatal enrolment at PHC Foko has increased from between five and 10 women monthly to about 25 to 30 women, while blood volume checks are carried out every four weeks to monitor the women’s health.

To strengthen maternal healthcare, the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with Evidence Action, introduced haemoglobinometers to improve anaemia testing among pregnant women and reduce maternal mortality in the state.

The government also made MMS available in 42 primary and six secondary health facilities across Oyo State to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of scaling up the intervention in Nigeria.

Anaemia remains one of the most pressing health risks facing pregnant women globally and in Nigeria. While about 37 per cent of pregnant women worldwide are affected, the situation is more difficult in Nigeria, where nearly 45 per cent of expectant mothers suffer from the condition. This contributes significantly to the country’s high maternal mortality burden.

Health experts attribute anaemia in pregnancy to deficiencies in essential nutrients such as iron, folate, and vitamin B12, which are critical for oxygen transport and fetal development. Without timely intervention, anaemia increases the risk of maternal mortality, low birth weight, and long-term health complications for children.

Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), commonly referred to as prenatal vitamins, are increasingly being recognised as a more effective alternative to traditional Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplements. MMS contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals and has been shown to reduce low birth weight by 12 per cent and small-for-gestational-age births by eight per cent.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ibadan Health Office 1, Dr Oyewole Aremu, cited studies showing that MMS helps prevent intrauterine malnutrition, which is linked to chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes later in life.

“This intervention is not just for the short term; it is transgenerational. It will influence the health outcomes of unborn children and improve the overall quality of society,” she said.

Ajetunmobi added that the supplements also play a critical role in reducing anaemia during pregnancy, one of the leading causes of maternal deaths.

“Anaemia contributes to obstetric haemorrhage, which accounts for about 40 per cent of maternal mortality. Reducing anaemia will significantly reduce maternal deaths,” she noted.

She stressed that MMS, alongside antenatal care, family planning, and emergency obstetric services, remains essential to reversing the trend.

Mrs Maryan Edeh, Senior Manager at Evidence Action, said the 18-month MMS pilot programme aimed at improving maternal nutrition and reducing anaemia among pregnant women in Oyo State recorded significant success and demonstrated a scalable solution to maternal malnutrition in Nigeria.

According to her, the initiative replaced traditional iron and folic acid supplements with MMS for pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in 48 health facilities across four local government areas in Oyo State.

Edeh said the pilot recorded notable improvements in access to and consumption of the supplements, high acceptance among pregnant women, and stronger anaemia testing and treatment systems.

President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Dr Sakirat Olanlege, said child development begins in the womb and that pregnant women require more than just iron and folic acid for healthy pregnancies.

“In our facility, we noticed that the haematocrit and packed cell volume levels among pregnant women taking MMS are much higher. We hardly see cases of anaemia anymore, and the babies are delivered at term with healthy birth weights,” she said.

“So, this is something we must embrace and encourage mothers to use. The pack contains 180 tablets, enough for six months, meaning mothers can continue taking them even after delivery.”

Speaking on behalf of the Country Director of Evidence Action, Tope Ogunbi, Edeh urged the state government to sustain routine MMS distribution and continue strengthening training and supervision to improve anaemia testing and treatment rates.

She also called for the deployment of point-of-care haemoglobinometer devices to high-volume facilities lacking testing equipment, as well as the development of a sustainable financing strategy to maintain routine MMS distribution across health facilities in the long term. (Saturday Tribune)