……… as BSPHCB, UNICEF commence implementation of MMS uptake across the state
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Expectant mothers will soon be given free micronutrients supplements to improve their nutritional status as Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BSPHCDA), UNICEF and other partners commenced the implementation of Multiple Micronutrients Supplementation (MMS) uptake program in Bauchi State.
The MMS initiative is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and implemented by UNICEF, in partnership with the Bauchi state government with the aim of improving health status of pregnant women in Bauchi state.
Speaking on Tuesday in Bauchi at the launching of the MMS initiative, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene said that under MMS scale-up, Bauchi state has received 134,280 bottles of MMS , disclosing that more of the supplement will be supplied as the project implementation progresses.
Irene, who quoted NDHIS 2018 data highlighting only 23 percent of the 381,364 pregnant women in Bauchi state as having receive iron and folic acid supplementation, said that the MMS initiative is crucial in reducing the risk of low birth weight, maternal anaemia, and iron deficiency.
“This initiative is expected to strengthen the ante-natal platforms to deliver high impact maternal nutrition interventions in Bauchi state.
“The initiative will also strengthen the capacity of health workers to effectively forecast and update MMS administration to pregnant women in Bauchi state on the Logistics Health Management Information system (LHIMS) and DHIS 2 platforms”, said Irene.
The nutrition specialist further emphasized that the scale up of MMS for pregnant women aligns with the Nigerian government’s plan to reduce anemia among pregnant women to 40 per cent by 2025 and also feeds into the SDG 2030 goal of reducing anemia among pregnant women by 50 percent by 2030.

Irene further said, “For this innovation to be sustained, UNICEF will work with the Bauchi State Government to ensure MMS is included in the annual state procurement Plan and that funds are released through the Child Nutrition Fund for the procurement of MMS”.
“On its part, UNICEF will continue to support Bauchi state government to mitigate the effects of anaemia in pregnancy and scale up MMS to all pregnant women across the state”
While appreciating BMGF and UNICEF for the intervention, Bauchi State Commissioner of health Dr. Adamu Umar Sambo acknowledged that MMS is one of the vital maternal supplements that improve nutrition amongst expectant mothers.
The Commissioner then pledged the State Government’s commitment to ensuring all pregnant women have access to the supplement in every healthcare facility across the State
Dr. Sambo informed that despite the paucity of funds in Government coffers, the health sector is one area where the Government goes out of its ways to see that healthcare services is provided at all times through increased funding for health programmes, adequate drugs supplies, recruitment of skilled health personnel, among others.
He also expressed his optimism that the MMS scale up initiative will improve healthcare outcomes in Bauchi State.