By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A shortage of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) across public health facilities in Bauchi State is raising concerns among pregnant women and health advocates, who warn that the development could worsen maternal and child health outcomes.
The concern surfaced during a spot assessment at a health facility in Bauchi, where pregnant and lactating women described MMS as essential for preventing iron deficiency and supporting healthy pregnancies.
They cautioned that continued scarcity exposes expectant mothers to anaemia-related complications, endangering both maternal and infant health.
Confirming the stock-out, Officer in Charge of the Primary Health Care Centre, Kofar Ran (Urban Maternity), Ms. Hauwa Adamu, said the situation is affecting newly registered antenatal clients despite high clinic attendance. She disclosed that between 70 and 160 women attend booking days, but MMS is currently unavailable for distribution.
Adamu revealed that anaemia symptoms are now observed in about 30 percent of pregnant women, noting that the figure had dropped significantly when MMS supplies were stable.
She called for the immediate restoration of supplies and advised expectant mothers to maintain balanced diets using locally available foods such as spinach, moringa, beans, and ugu.
Also speaking during the monitoring visit, Bauchi State Coordinator of Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition (CS-SUUN), Dabis Mwalike, warned that the absence of MMS is reversing progress in maternal and child health.
Executive Director of Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), Elizabeth Kah, urged the media to sustain advocacy and hold authorities accountable to prevent stock-outs in health facilities.
