The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), has supplied 3 million bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to enhance maternal health in Nigeria.
The agencies said 3 million bottles will be delivered in 2025 to support more pregnant women.
In a press statement shared on the UNICEF website on Tuesday, the agencies noted that with 12 million pregnancies annually, Nigeria faces severe maternal health challenges, including one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births.
It added that many newborns also suffer from low birth weight or premature delivery, increasing the risk of infant mortality.
The Child Nutrition Fund, managed by UNICEF, is supported by global partners, including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Gates Foundation, and Kirk Humanitarian.
The initiative aims to establish a sustainable financing model, ensuring more pregnant women receive essential micronutrients for healthier pregnancies and improved birth outcomes.
According to the statement, findings from the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (2024) revealed widespread deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin A, and folate among Nigerian pregnant women. The survey further emphasised the need to address the gap to improve maternal health and child survival.
It also noted that the first batch of MMS, donated by Kirk Humanitarian Foundation, was distributed during the 2024 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW). Adding that the 2025 batch, also provided by Kirk Humanitarian, aims to broaden coverage and ensure more pregnant women receive essential nutrients.
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, reiterated the role of maternal nutrition in reducing maternal mortality and improving child health.
Also, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing maternal nutrition challenges through the inclusion of MMS in the Essential Medicines List and investments in local production.
Pate said, “Nigeria is taking decisive steps to ensure sustainable access to MMS for all pregnant women expanding this initiative will significantly improve maternal and child health outcomes”.
Founder of Kirk Humanitarian, Spencer Kirk, reaffirmed his organization’s dedication to scaling up MMS availability in Nigeria.
“Providing MMS at scale is one of the most impactful ways to support healthy pregnancies and ensure better outcomes for mothers and babies”.
