As the International Congress of Nutrition (ICN 2025) opened in Paris, the Mary Dinah Foundation (MDF), on Tuesday, announced a groundbreaking $250 million health initiative designed to reshape maternal and newborn health in underserved regions worldwide.
At the heart of the initiative is the Global Maternal and Newborn Development Fund (GMNDF), a $250 million fund dedicated to supporting millions of pregnant women across low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), by focusing on maternal nutrition, a proven determinant of maternal and child survival.
In a statement, the Founder of MDF, Lady Mary Dinah, underscored the role of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) in driving better outcomes.
She said that the Fund aims to address some of the most urgent gaps in global health.
Central to GMNDF’s mission is its flagship programme, BirthStrong, which seeks to reach over five million pregnant women by 2030 with evidence-based nutritional interventions. These interventions are proven to significantly reduce maternal anaemia, prevent low birthweight, decrease preterm births, and save newborn lives.
Dinah said: “Compared with traditional iron-folic acid supplements, MMS provides a broader spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals tailored specifically for pregnancy. More than two decades of research demonstrate that MMS improves pregnancy outcomes more effectively than iron-folic acid alone, earning endorsements from both WHO and UNICEF.
“Beyond supplement provision, GMNDF works to strengthen health systems by partnering with governments, Local Agencies, and International Organisations to integrate maternal nutrition into antenatal care and community health services. This approach ensures that interventions are sustainable, locally led, and fully aligned with national health priorities.”
Dinah called on policymakers, practitioners and global health leaders to recognize maternal nutrition as “a cornerstone of healthy societies and a high-impact avenue for safeguarding mothers and newborns.
“A nourished mother brings life not only to her child, but to her community.”
She highlighted the transformative potential of GMNDF and BirthStrong in improving maternal and newborn outcomes worldwide.
The foundation emphasized the transformative potential of GMNDF and BirthStrong in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes globally, signaling a new era of commitment to mothers and children in vulnerable communities.
