Agency
A Nutritionist, Uju Onuorah says transitioning from Iron Folic Acids for pregnant women to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, will significantly enhance nutrition for both mother and foetus.
She said this on Tuesday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
NAN reports that the Federal Government is set to commence MMS to enhance nutrition for pregnant women and ensure they deliver healthy babies.
The supplement was adopted based on the 2020 World Health Organisation recommendation on antenatal care for positive pregnancy experience.
As a once-a-day pill packed with critical micronutrients, MMS, whose roll-out will commence in Bauchi State contains 13 to 15 vitamins and minerals.
According to WHO, MMS are essential for normal physiological function, growth and development.
However, deficiencies of micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, iodine and folate are particularly common during pregnancy due to increased nutrient requirements of the mother and developing foetus.
The UN health body added that these deficiencies could negatively impact the health of the mother, pregnancy, as well as the health of the newborn.
Onuorah said MMS are particularly significant during the crucial first 1,000 days of the baby’s life, so Nigeria’s transition from IFAs is a step in the right direction.
According to her, IFAs primarily contained iron and folic acid, while MMS included a broader range of essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, zinc, vitamin A, and others.
She added that MMS are important for pregnant women because it ensures adequate intake of essential nutrients vital for the development of the foetus and the well-being of the mother.
Onuorah explained that it provided a broader spectrum of essential nutrients, ensuring better maternal nutrition status and supporting optimal fetal development vital for long-term health outcomes.
She added, “They can help prevent various birth defects, reduce the risk of pre-term birth, improve birth outcomes, and support maternal health during pregnancy.
“By providing a comprehensive array of micronutrients, MMS contributes to enhancing the nutritional status of both the mother and the baby, especially during the critical first 1000 days of the baby’s life, which significantly influences long-term health outcomes.
“Pregnant women are advised to take MMS since it addresses possible micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and supports the mother and the unborn child’s health and development.”
The nutritionist said that not taking these supplements during pregnancy could increase the risk of maternal anaemia, pre-term birth, low birth weight, and neural tube defects in newborns.
Also, zinc deficiency, another common issue, she noted could impair immune function and growth.
(NAN)
