The Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation in Pregnancy Technical Advisory Group (MMS TAG) is an interdisciplinary group of experts in nutrition, maternal health, and public health. Since 2023, the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Consortium (HMHB) has hosted the MMS TAG to support its ongoing mission.
The MMS TAG’s mission is to interpret emerging evidence on MMS and provide high-fidelity guidance to governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, multilateral organizations, and the private sector.
In response to the 2016 WHO Guidelines for Antenatal Care, the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) assembled a scientific task force comprised of international experts in micronutrient deficiencies, public health, nutrition, pediatrics, and health economics to:
The first phase of this initiative revealed that shifting from iron and folic acid supplementation (IFA) to MMS in antenatal care (ANC) programs could yield substantial benefits in reducing maternal mortality and improving birth outcomes.
After an initial review of the evidence, the MMS TAG was established in 2018 to promote MMS among pregnant women in several low and middle-income countries. This was done in close collaboration with UNICEF, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
First MMS Task Force Meeting – November 2017, New York City
Over the years, the MMS TAG has been actively engaged in various activities. The most recent outputs of the MMS TAG include:
The MMS TAG continues to play a vital role in advancing the understanding and adoption of MMS in pregnancy, ultimately contributing to improved maternal health and birth outcomes.
Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Busch-Hallen, MSc (Nutrition International), Parul Christian, DrPH, MSc (Johns Hopkins University), Robert Black, MD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University), Filomena Gomes, RD PhD (The Micronutrient Forum – HMHB Program Team), Clayton Ajello, DrPH, MPH (Vitamin Angels), Klaus Kraemer, PhD (Sight and Life), Sufia Askari, MD, MPH (Sight and Life), Emily Smith, ScD, MPH (George Washington University), Martin Mwangi, PhD (The Micronutrient Forum – HMHB Program Team)
PC: Holland Park Media
Rina Agustina, MSc, PhD (University of Indonesia)
Clayton Ajello, DrPH, MPH (Vitamin Angels)
Shams El Arifeen, MD, PhD (icddr,b)
Sufia Askari, MD, MPH (Sight and Life)
Robert Black, MD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University)
Jennifer Busch-Hallen, MSc (Nutrition International)
Parul Christian, DrPH, MSc (Johns Hopkins University)
Kay Dewey, PhD (University of California, Davis)
Farhana Shahid, MD PhD (Ziauddin University)
Omobolaji Adewuyi, PhD (University of Technology)
John Hoddinott, PhD (Cornell University)
Klaus Kraemer, PhD (Sight and Life)
Emily Mates (UNICEF)
Lisa M. Noguchi, PhD, CNM (Jhpiego)
Saskia Osendarp, PhD (Micronutrient Forum)
Anuraj H. Shankar, DSc (Oxford University)
Emily Smith, ScD, MPH (George Washington University)
Firehiwot Workneh, PhD (Addis Continental Institute of Public Health)