For a pregnant woman battling fatigue, weakness or other symptoms associated with anaemia, a visit to the health facility should offer reassurance and the nutritional support needed to protect both mother and baby.
However, for many women in Nigeria, an essential part of that protection may simply be unavailable.
A new study has revealed that 80.3 per cent of pregnant women surveyed experienced stockouts of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) at health facilities, while only 29.4 per cent said the supplements were always available.
The study found that 92.1 per cent of women were willing to take MMS if it was made available, while 62.9 per cent received the supplements during pregnancy where they were available.
The figures point to a supply problem rather than a lack of acceptance among women.
The study, conducted by the Academic and Research Network, Nigeria, in collaboration with the Civil Society Council for Health, Nigeria and presented at the bi-annual press briefing on the anaemia situation in Nigeria, organised by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), in Abuja, examined community awareness, financing and uptake of MMS as an intervention for preventing anaemia among pregnant women.
It also sought to identify systemic and behavioural barriers and provide evidence-based recommendations for strengthening implementation.
Anaemia during pregnancy is not merely a matter of feeling tired. It can have serious consequences for both mother and child, particularly when nutritional deficiencies are not identified and addressed early.
The Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Adegbite Olufunmilola, described Nigeria’s anaemia situation as a “wide, devastating crisis”, noting that prevalence among pregnant women is above 50 per cent.
She said the country could not afford to accept a situation in which women and children continue to suffer from a condition that could be prevented through appropriate interventions.
According to her, the Federal Government is accelerating the use of MMS alongside iron-folic acid supplementation as part of efforts to prevent anaemia and improve pregnancy outcomes.
The ministry, she disclosed, has reached states with MMS, but only about 10 states have so far commenced its use.
“We are pushing forward to ensure more states key into the use of MMS in Nigeria,” she said, stressing the need for more states to adopt the intervention.
However, even as government pushes for wider adoption, the study suggests that availability remains a major stumbling block.
Perhaps the most revealing finding of the study is that Nigerian women are not necessarily resisting MMS.
The 92.1 per cent willingness to use MMS if available suggests that there is significant room to improve uptake if the supply chain can be strengthened.
Yet only 23 per cent of women surveyed reported daily use.
Researchers said sustained availability and an effective delivery strategy could significantly improve uptake.
The findings, therefore, shift attention from the question of whether women will accept MMS to whether the health system can consistently provide it.
For a woman who begins taking the supplements and later finds that they are unavailable, continuity becomes difficult.
The researchers identified supply-chain management as one of the key areas requiring urgent attention, alongside sustainable financing and stronger monitoring.
They warned that without consistent supplies, the inclusion of MMS in national policies and essential medicines frameworks may not translate into improved health outcomes for women.
Nigeria has already included MMS on its Essential Medicines List, a development described by the researchers as a significant step towards improving access.
However, they stressed that policy recognition must be matched by effective procurement, distribution and availability at the frontline.
