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Nigeria

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Outline of Nigeria

Initial implementation supported by implementation research

In Nigeria, more than half of all pregnant women and 68% of under-five Nigerian children suffer from anemia.[1], [2] To address this, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health is actively engaging with a coalition of technical partners and NGOs— including Sight and Life, Nutrition International, Results for Development, and Vitamin Angels—to explore transition from iron folic acid to MMS.[3] Significant momentum is building at the ministerial level, as MMS has been included several nutrition policies and frameworks including: the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition 2021-2025; National Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Micronutrient Deficiencies; Ministerial Order; and MIYCN Policy and Guid\elines.

 

The national policies for MMS are grounded in the 2020 WHO recommendation on antenatal care (ANC) for a positive pregnancy experience, as well as implementation research and advocacy led by the nutrition partners. For example, Sight and Life completed a supply readiness assessment in 2015, and partners have since conducted additional analyses to explore delivery platforms and cost-effectiveness of MMS in Nigeria. This includes an assessment of the national nutrition situation and policy and regulatory environment to support development of advocacy tools and materials.

 

Additional activities are ongoing to support the transition, including: exploration of local manufacturing and the development of a national working group; further awareness raising and consensus building, as well as support for distribution of MMS across the country. Nutrition International is collaborating with the federal government and Bauchi State to introduce MMS as part of antenatal in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) through a woman-centered approach. In the northeast region, Vitamin Angels has been working with Nuru Nigeria and the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency to distribute MMS to local pregnant women. Additionally, in the Kano and Bauchi states, Results for Development is co-creating and costing launch plans to support introduction and distribution of MMS. The coalition of nutrition partners will continue to conduct additional research—such as supply readiness and procurement assessments—as well as monitoring and evaluation activities, to support local manufacturing and distribution, and future scale-up of MMS.

[1] World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.PRG.ANEM?locations=NG

[2] NDHS 2018. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/SR264/SR264.pdf

[3] Federal Ministry of Health. (2021). National Guidelines for the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies in Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Health, Department of Family Health, Nutrition Division.

  • Start Date: 2015
  • End Date: ongoing