The Oyo State Government has launched a statewide Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) programme targeting 160,000 pregnant women monthly to improve maternal nutrition, reduce anaemia and promote healthier birth outcomes.

The programme, launched in Ibadan, covers all 33 local government areas of the state and will be delivered through antenatal care services at government health facilities.

The initiative is being implemented by the Oyo State Ministry of Health and the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, with technical support from Evidence Action.

Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said the programme would help address nutritional deficiencies among pregnant women and reduce preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

She said evidence from studies comparing conventional iron and folic acid supplements with multiple micronutrient supplements showed additional benefits from the latter.

“Many of our pregnant women are prone to maternal mortality and morbidity because of poor dietary intake. They need MMS to provide the necessary nutrients, prevent anaemia, help the baby grow well, and avoid complications during delivery,” she said.

Ajetunmobi said the state government was taking steps to provide a dedicated nutrition budget to ensure a regular supply of the supplements.

She added that the initiative would strengthen antenatal care services across the state and improve access to essential nutrients for pregnant women.

Multiple micronutrient supplements combine iron, folic acid and 13 other essential vitamins and minerals in one daily tablet. Evidence cited by the programme indicates that MMS can reduce low birthweight by 12 per cent and stillbirths by eight per cent compared with iron and folic acid supplementation alone.

Anaemia remains a major concern during pregnancy in Nigeria. National estimates cited by the programme indicate that about 45 per cent of pregnant women in the country were anaemic in 2023. The condition can increase the risk of maternal complications, low birthweight, premature delivery and stillbirth.

The Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said the initiative would strengthen efforts to address malnutrition among women and children through early detection and improved access to essential nutrients.

He said the state had recruited skilled health workers across its local government areas to support monitoring and ensure pregnant women could access the supplements.

Olatunji described the statewide rollout as an opportunity to demonstrate how government leadership, primary healthcare and evidence-based interventions could improve maternal nutrition on a wider scale.

Speaking on behalf of Evidence Action’s Country Director, the organisation’s South-West Senior Manager, Mrs Maryann Edeh, commended the state government’s commitment to maternal and child nutrition.

She said the programme was expected to reach 160,000 pregnant women monthly by providing essential nutritional support through existing health facilities.

Evidence Action will provide technical assistance, supply-chain support and capacity-building for antenatal care workers. The support will also cover screening, treatment and referral for women with severe anaemia, programme monitoring and counselling on nutrition and adherence to the supplements.

The scale-up builds on an operational feasibility pilot conducted in 2024 in Oyo State and the Federal Capital Territory by Evidence Action and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Mr. Ajibade Theophilus, the state representative of the Food Basket Initiative at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, described the programme as an investment in the health of mothers and babies.

He urged stakeholders to support the initiative, saying it could contribute to the state’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

The state government also highlighted its partnership with the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund and Evidence Action, reiterating its commitment to financing the procurement of the supplements and integrating the programme into routine maternal health services.