Health experts and advocates have urged governments to scale up supplies of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) for pregnant women to reduce maternal deaths and improve babies’ health nationwide.

The experts made the call in an update issued by the Nigerian Goal Keepers Community on Friday in Abuja, highlighting persistent shortages and gaps in maternal nutrition.

According to the update, Nigeria continues to face a significant maternal health burden, with iron-deficiency anaemia affecting an estimated 60 per cent of pregnant women nationwide.

Ayodele Renner, a consultant paediatrician and medical expert, said the nutrients were essential for the health of mothers and their unborn babies.

Mr Renner explained that MMS helped prevent iron deficiency in pregnant women and supported babies’ cognitive development, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes.

He said approximately 1.3 million Nigerian women had received the supplements since their introduction in 2021, while an additional three million benefited through UNICEF support.

However, he said coverage remained inadequate compared with the estimated 12 million pregnancies recorded annually in Nigeria, highlighting the urgent need for expanded access.

Mr Renner described the transition from iron and folic acid supplements to MMS as an affordable intervention, noting that each pill could cost approximately N27.

He urged the government to expand access to the supplements, saying their potential benefits for maternal and child health justified increased investment.

Similarly, Hauwa Abbas, a maternal health specialist and advocate, said pregnant women required adequate nutrients to support the development of their babies’ brains, vital organs and blood supply.

Ms Abbas said a growing baby needed more than just enough food, emphasising that adequate maternal nutrition requires essential vitamins and minerals to support healthy development.

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 indicated that 25 per cent of healthcare facilities took more than two months to replenish supplies after stockouts, further limiting access for pregnant women.

It said Nigeria adopted MMS in 2021, targeting 70 per cent coverage by 2030. However, donor supplies remained insufficient to meet the needs of millions of pregnancies each year.

According to the update, Nigeria records an estimated 7.8 million to 12 million pregnancies annually, underscoring the need for sustainable financing and reliable supplement supply systems.

To address the challenge, advocates called for the formal integration of MMS into routine antenatal care guidelines and its inclusion as a standard component of maternal healthcare.

The experts also urged federal and state governments to allocate dedicated budgets for the supplements, ensuring consistent availability in primary healthcare centres and other facilities.

They further recommended collaboration among stakeholders to expand local production, reduce dependence on imported supplies and minimise distribution delays across the country.

The experts said increased awareness among healthcare workers and communities would encourage pregnant women to seek antenatal care and understand the benefits of adequate micronutrient supplementation.

The advocates, however, maintained that sustained government funding, reliable supply systems and improved public awareness were necessary to expand coverage and protect maternal and child health across Nigeria. ‎

(NAN)