The introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) has significantly reduced cases of anaemia among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Dutse-Alhaji Primary Healthcare Centre in the Federal Capital Territory.
Dr Deborah Joshua, Officer-in-Charge of the facility, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media field visit organised by Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition (CS-SUNN) to sensitise pregnant women on the benefits of MMS.
She said MMS simplified supplementation as all essential nutrients were contained in a single daily tablet, leading to fewer women presenting with anaemia, while those already anaemic were stabilised before delivery.
“Most of our women are doing well, and for the few who were anaemic before starting antenatal care, we restore them before labour,” Joshua said, adding that each woman receives a free bottle of 180 tablets.
Joshua emphasised that MMS worked best when combined with routine checks, counselling, and close monitoring during pregnancy, noting that operational challenges such as inadequate human resources could slow service delivery.
Mrs Chinyere Ekwueme, FCT State Nutrition Officer, described MMS as a “game-changer” because it contained 15 micronutrients compared with two in previous Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets.
She said mothers preferred MMS due to its better smell and reduced nausea, which improved compliance and birth outcomes, but stressed that antenatal attendance at certified facilities remained essential.
Ekwueme urged communities to report any health worker found selling the free supplements, warning that such practices undermined maternal and infant health, while encouraging the FCT Administration to adopt the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) for sustainable supply.
Mr Peter Olusola, Communications and Campaign Manager for CS-SUNN, explained that the CNF was a matching fund managed by UNICEF, doubling government contributions for nutrition commodities, but noted the opportunity was time-bound and ended in 2030.
Pregnant women at the facility lauded MMS for improving their health.
Mrs Precious Innocent, a third-time mother, said her blood levels improved compared with previous pregnancies, while Mrs Grace Danjuma said the daily tablets were easy to take and allowed her to remain active without discomfort.
