To combat the high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, the media has been urged to promote Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women.
The call was made by Clinical Dietitian and Lagos State Coordinator, Alive & Thrive Project, Olawumi Ajayi, during a media roundtable organised by the Alive & Thrive initiative, managed by FHI 360 and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
Ajayi emphasised the urgent need to improve maternal nutrition across Nigeria, stressing the need for the media to go beyond merely reporting on the issue of maternal nutrition, urging them to become advocates on the issue.
The discussion, which was attended by media professionals highlighted the alarming state of maternal health in the country, where poor dietary diversity leaves many women without the essential nutrients required for a healthy pregnancy.
According to Ajayi, “We want the media to use their platforms to highlight this issue with a deep understanding. It’s about being advocates of the cause, not only reporters of the cause.”
She noted that maternal nutrition is a critical issue in Nigeria, citing data from the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 and the Nigerian Food Consumption Metric Survey (NFCMS) 2021.
“The Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) for pregnant and lactating women has declined by about a third, with 28.8% meeting the required dietary diversity as of 2021. For non-pregnant and non-lactating women, the figure stands at 28.2%, while the overall MDD score for women of reproductive age is just 3.6 out of 10.
“One in five maternal deaths is linked to malnutrition, she explained, adding that women, particularly during pregnancy and breastfeeding, need additional support through nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable diets.
“Malnourished mothers are more likely to suffer from conditions such as anaemia, which significantly increases the risk of preterm birth and postpartum haemorrhage—the leading cause of maternal death” she stated.
Ajayi emphasised the critical need for MMS, which includes 13 additional micronutrients beyond the Iron and Folic Acid (IFAS) traditionally provided to pregnant women.
“This new initiative is particularly for women attending Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Lagos State. We strongly advocate that they attend antenatal care and receive MMS daily until delivery to ensure the health of both mother and child,” Ajayi said.
Speaking further, she noted that MMS is a vital tool in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to reducing stunting in children under five by 40%, cutting anaemia in women of reproductive age by 50%, and lowering the incidence of low birth weight by 30%.
State Nutrition Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Taiwo Fadairo, also emphasised the importance of supplementing the diet of women of reproductive age with MMS. She pointed out that the nutritional needs of these women, especially during pregnancy, cannot be fully met through diet alone due to nutrient losses during food processing and cooking.
“We need to supplement with MMS to ensure that women derive their recommended daily dietary allowances.
“The State Ministry of Health is doing everything in its capacity, in collaboration with partners like UNICEF, to ensure that MMS is available in both private and public health facilities,” Fadairo explained.
