By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
In September last year, the Bauchi State Government—in partnership with UNICEF Nigeria, the Bill & Melinda Gates, and Kirk Foundations, and other development partners—unveiled a groundbreaking initiative designed to strengthen maternal and child nutrition and reduce preventable deaths in the state.
At the heart of this initiative is the introduction of free Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women, a move aimed at improving maternal wellbeing, preventing anaemia, and ensuring healthier birth outcomes.
MMS is a daily prenatal supplement that contains iron and folic acid as well as essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and zinc. Global evidence shows that MMS improves maternal health, reduces anaemia, and supports better fetal growth—offering greater benefits than iron–folic acid alone.
Recently, the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office organised a field visit for journalists to two primary healthcare facilities in the state to observe firsthand the impact of MMS on pregnant women. The visit provided insights into the supplement’s effectiveness as mothers and health workers shared their experiences.
Women Share Their Experiences
At the Urban Maternity Centre in Bauchi, several pregnant women attending routine Antenatal Care (ANC) spoke about their positive experiences with the supplement.
Aisha Usman, a mother of five, recounted how MMS transformed her most recent pregnancy.
“I did not experience the sickness that usually comes with pregnancy,” she said. “I ate well, did my chores easily, and my baby was strong and healthy at birth—much better than my previous children. I’m glad I took MMS throughout the pregnancy.”
Her testimony echoed the remarks of Philomena Irene, a Nutrition Specialist with UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, who explained that most pregnant women in Nigeria experience multiple micronutrient deficiencies that affect their health and that of their unborn babies.
According to her, MMS reduces anaemia, fatigue, infection risks, and the chances of having low birthweight babies.
Three first-time expectant mothers—Aishatu Muhammad Umar, Maryam Musa, and Khadija Is’hak Mai’auduga (who has a hearing impairment)—also confirmed that MMS had improved their strength and overall wellbeing.
Their experiences align with Irene’s emphasis on MMS’s goal: “The aim of scaling up MMS is to reduce maternal anaemia, improve energy levels, support healthier fetal growth, and ultimately reduce low birthweight.”
Health Workers Confirm Positive Outcomes*
Mrs. Hauwa Yohana Luka, Officer-in-Charge of the Urban Maternity Centre, noted that health workers have observed remarkable improvements since MMS was introduced.
“We have seen reductions in early-morning sickness, appetite loss, and general weakness among pregnant women. Babies delivered also appear healthier and more energetic. MMS has made a clear difference.”
Challenges to Implementation
Despite the success recorded so far, the MMS programme still faces obstacles.
Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board (BSPHCDB), highlighted two major concerns:
1. Diversion and illegal sale of MMS by some facility workers to patent medicine vendors.
2. Sharing of supplements by pregnant women with their spouses, similar to past issues with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF).
He emphasized that the state is tightening monitoring systems to curb these practices.
Dr. Mohammed reiterated MMS’s benefits in reducing low birthweight, anaemia, and iron deficiency, and he expressed appreciation to UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and the Kirk Foundation for supporting the programme.
UNICEF, in turn, commended the commitment shown by Bauchi State in financing and championing maternal and child nutrition.
Sustaining the Gains
To ensure long-term success, UNICEF Nutrition Officer Irene recommended several actions for sustainability:
1. Integrate MMS permanently into routine ANC services.
2. Secure sustainable funding through state budget allocations.
3. Strengthen supply chains to prevent stockouts.
4. Train frontline health workers for counselling and adherence support.
5. Invest in behaviour-change communication to ensure early initiation and continuous use.
6. Intensify monitoring and evaluation to guide policy and expansion.
The MMS scale-up in Bauchi aligns with Nigeria’s national target of reducing anaemia in pregnant women by 40% by 2025 and contributes to the global Sustainable Development Goal of a 50% reduction by 2030.
As the programme continues, Bauchi-based journalists pledge to amplify evidence-based reporting on maternal nutrition and raise awareness on the life-saving benefits of MMS for mothers and newborns.