Experts have called for Multiple Micronutrients Supplementation (MMS) to be embraced over the age-long Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) for pregnant women and lactating mothers. TheMediaGood Newspaper can report that the call was made at the one-day sensitization programme organized by FHI360 on Wednesday 28th August 2024.
The FHI360 on the Alive and Thrive Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Olawumi Ajayi said the training would prevent maternal anemia and other micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria. She advised women of reproductive age to be on supplementation of at least folic acid and urged pregnant women to consume daily micronutrient supplementation of 30-60mg of iron and 400mcg of folic acid as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
She noted that combining all micronutrients in multi-supplements and delivery of a Multiple Micronutrients Supplement (MMS) to pregnant and lactating mothers should be embraced rather than the age-long Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS).
She also explained that MMS, a preventative intervention, is a once-a-day pill of critical micronutrients containing fifteen (15) essential vitamins and minerals and is available for pregnant women at various public health facilities at no cost.
Also speaking to journalists at the sensitization, State Nutrition Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Taiwo Fadairo said sensitization is ongoing at all the state-owned health facilities, revealing that the government is working on the expansion of MMS to women of reproductive age.“
Lagos State Government started the allocation of MMS distribution to pregnant women like three years ago. We can expand it, you know, a lot of sensitization at our facilities, health education to pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers, we’ve been sensitizing them already and we are trying to look at how some other partners can collaborate.”
Fadairo urged pregnant women to register for antenatal at any of the public healthcare facilities in Lagos to benefit from all the various interventions of the State Government especially the Multiple Micronutrients Supplement drugs. ‘Go and register in the public facilities. Once you register, you will be given MMS. MMS is a pregnant woman’s way of providing all the things for herself and the baby. So, from the food you eat, even if you take all the adequate necessary diet, due to cooking, due to other processes, you cannot derive the recommended dietary allowance once you are pregnant. So you need to supplement it from your MMS’, she noted.