Anaemia: How Simple Supplement Could Save Nigeria’s Mothers, Children

Nigeria is facing a deepening nutrition crisis that is threatening the health of women and children, with experts warning that urgent interventions are needed to reverse disturbing trends in anemia and malnutrition.

According to the 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 40 per cent of children under five are stunted, up from 37 per cent in 2018, while 55 per cent of women of reproductive age are anemic.

At a media roundtable in Abuja, themed: “Headlines That Save Lives: Media Power Against Anemia and Malnutrition,” Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and partners highlighted Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) as a cost-effective intervention to address maternal nutrition.

MMS provides 15 essential vitamins and minerals, and evidence shows that daily intake during pregnancy prevents anemia, reduces low birth weight, and improves birth outcomes.

Although Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation has been standard for decades, experts said MMS offers broader protection for pregnant women and their children. In 2021, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare updated its national guidelines to recommend MMS during pregnancy, aligning with World Health Organisation guidance. MMS has since been added to Nigeria’s Essential Medicines List, signaling progress in policy adoption.

The Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Sunday Okoronkwo, said “Maternal malnutrition increases vulnerability to illness, reinforces intergenerational poverty, and reduces productivity in adulthood.”

CS-SUNN, in collaboration with UNICEF, FHI 360, Nutrition International, Results for Development, and other partners, has been instrumental in pushing for the scale-up of MMS. The alliance has supported policy reviews, advocated for integration into antenatal care, and built the capacity of civil society organisations to track MMS distribution and uptake among pregnant women.

“This partnership approach has been key to advancing maternal nutrition in Nigeria,” Okoronkwo noted.

A critical part of the strategy lies in sustainable financing. The Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), a pooled mechanism managed by UNICEF, enables governments to double their investments in nutrition commodities, including MMS. Advocates are urging federal and state governments to leverage the CNF to ensure a steady supply of supplements nationwide.

Stakeholders recommended that MMS should be integrated into all antenatal care protocols, training healthcare workers to deliver the intervention effectively, and strengthening supply chains to prevent stockouts in both rural and urban facilities.

The roundtable also emphasised the role of journalists in sustaining public and political attention on anemia and malnutrition. “The media has the power to influence policy, shape opinion, and hold leaders accountable. The headlines we create today should drive life-saving actions tomorrow,” Okoronkwo said.

With anemia affecting more than half of Nigerian women of reproductive age, experts agree that the stakes are high. Stakeholders insist that bold action, backed by political will and consistent investment, is needed to break the cycle of malnutrition and secure healthier futures for mothers and children.

“Nigeria has the evidence, the tools, and the partnerships. What is needed now is decisive implementation,” Okoronkwo added.