A new report by Sight and Life (SAL), a humanitarian nutrition think tank, has shown that two-thirds of non-pregnant women of reproductive age worldwide have micronutrient deficiencies.
In addition, for pregnant women in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), the prevalence is likely to be higher, resulting in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
ALSO READ: Antenatal care key in addressing maternal, infant mortality - MoH
Dubbed "Sight and Life Special Report on MMS”, the report was launched on July 20, during a side event of the Women Deliver Conference on "Accelerating Access to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for Pregnant Women in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs)”.
The event brought together experts and heads of organisations that work in the nutrition field, as well as mother and child health to share experience on access to MMS and strategise for scale-up.
The World Health Organization prioritised Multiple Micronutrient Supplements among antenatal nutrition recommendations alongside vitamin D supplements.
The "Sight and Life Special Report on MMS” provides documented evidence that aims to compel countries to transition from iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) to MMS for the benefit of all women and their future.
Globally, a significant number of women face challenges in accessing nutritious diets; approximately 170 million women, which is 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, are underweight.
ALSO READ: Food fortification prevents malnutrition
In the "Sight and Life Special Report on MMS”, it was found that MMS can lead to a 12 per cent reduction in the risk of low birth weight, and the breakthrough has the potential to positively impact around 2.2 million infants in LMIC every year, given that recent global data shows approximately 20.5 million live births with a birth weight of less than 2,500 grams, with 91 per cent of these occurring in LMIC.
Speaking at the launch event, SAL President, Klaus Kraemer, said every woman deserves high-quality antenatal care that includes MMS.
"We need to make MMS supplements the standard of care and use it as a catalyst to improve women’s health and reduce inequalities,” she said.
"We are ready and determined to drive change that will transform the lives of pregnant women, their families, and communities. With the right support from donors, countries, and stakeholders, MMS will save lives and change futures.”
Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi, Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), said pregnant women in Rwanda receive free MMS and folic acid at health centres during antenatal care consultations.
She pointed out that, however, some women still miss the MMS uptake due to a lack of knowledge of their importance in pregnancy.
"We work closely with community health care workers to improve knowledge and behaviour change among pregnant women and the community in general,” she added.
According to WHO, maternal iron deficiency is the most common known micronutrient deficiency that causes anaemia. Anaemia is estimated to affect 40 per cent of pregnant women globally, and 46 per cent in Africa.
SAL’s report states that making MMS available to all women in low and middle-income countries can act as a social equaliser by offering all pregnant women the same standard of care. It notes that countries can achieve this by removing barriers to accessing MMS and making them free for all women attending antenatal care.