UNICEF donates 3m bottles of supplements to support pregnant women 

The Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), managed by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is set to deliver 2025 3 million bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to improve maternal health and support pregnant women in Nigeria.

UNICEF had earlier provided 3 million bottles of MMS in 2024.

Communication officer, UNICEF, Anike Alli-Hakeem, said with 12 million pregnancies annually, more efforts are needed to scale up MMS availability in Nigeria. 

She stated Tuesday that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world with 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, and a high proportion of babies born with low birth weight or prematurely, putting them at increased risk of death compared to full-term, healthy babies.

The statement said many challenges contribute to maternal mortality, including maternal nutrition, leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. 

“The National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (2024) revealed that many pregnant women in Nigeria suffer from deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin A, folate, and other essential nutrients. Addressing these gaps is critical to improving maternal health and child survival.

“The 3 million bottles of MMS in 2024, donated by Kirk Humanitarian Foundation, were distributed during the second round of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in 2024. In 2025, through the CNF, Nigeria will receive an additional 3 million bottles donated by Kirk Humanitarian to further expand coverage and reach more pregnant women in need.

“Ensuring that pregnant women receive the necessary micronutrients is a vital step in reducing maternal mortality and improving child health.

“This donation is a testament to our commitment to supporting the Government of Nigeria in scaling MMS coverage and making maternal health a national priority,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria.