Oyo State Forges $500 Million Alliance with UNICEF to Elevate Maternal Nutrition Standards
The Oyo State Government has entered into a transformative partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other key development organizations, securing a monumental investment approaching $500 million. This strategic collaboration is designed to significantly scale up the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) programme specifically tailored for pregnant women throughout the state.
Pilot Dissemination Meetings Unveil Groundbreaking Initiative
This landmark development was officially disclosed during pilot dissemination meetings on MMS held in Ibadan. These meetings served as a crucial platform to share comprehensive findings from implementation research, feasibility studies, and pilot projects focused on transitioning from Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) to the more advanced MMS for pregnant women.
The gathering brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including officials from the State Ministry of Health, UNICEF representatives, Evidence Action personnel, public health practitioners, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. The primary objective was to facilitate an exchange of experiences and rigorously assess evidence concerning the effectiveness, adherence, and acceptability of MMS, with the overarching goal of substantially reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Historical Context and National Implementation Framework
It is important to recall that Nigeria's official transition from Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women commenced in 2021. This shift followed the 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation advocating for the replacement of IFA with MMS in low- and middle-income countries to enhance pregnancy outcomes.
In 2023, Oyo State and the Federal Capital Territory were strategically selected as pilot locations to test this transition from IFAS to MMS. This pilot program received substantial support from Evidence Action, a non-profit organization dedicated to scaling high-impact, evidence-based programs aimed at reducing global poverty.
The adopted Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) contain 15 essential vitamins and minerals, including iron and folic acid. This formulation serves as a superior alternative to IFA, effectively addressing anemia risks while simultaneously tackling other common nutritional deficiencies that can undermine pregnancy outcomes.
In a significant move, the Federal Government approved in 2024 the scale-up from pilot programs to a nationwide initiative. This expansion is part of a comprehensive 5-year phased transition plan (2025–2029) designed to combat the high rates of anemia prevalent during pregnancy across Nigeria.
Scale-Up Strategy and Impressive Outreach Targets
Mrs. Maryann Edeh, the South-West Regional Manager of Evidence Action, provided detailed insights into the scale-up programme. She disclosed that an average of 160,000 pregnant women would be reached monthly across all 33 local government areas of Oyo State. Edeh further emphasized that her organization would continue to support the government to ensure the consistent availability of MMS in all public health facilities.
According to her presentation, more than 90,000 cartons of MMS have been donated to Oyo State since 2024 by Evidence Action. This donation specifically targeted over 3,000 pregnant women enrolled in the pilot phase across four strategically selected local government areas: Ibadan South-West (urban), and Oyo West, Oyo East, and Afijio (rural).
Comprehensive Research and Distribution Metrics
Providing further background, Edeh explained that studies conducted between May 2024 and December 2025 involved the distribution of 19,440 bottles of MMS to pregnant women attending antenatal care in 90 health facilities. She noted that 48 facilities were actively engaged in the programme across the four LGAs, with 4,331 MMS bottles supplied.
The initiative also included the provision of 8,460 anemia testing devices and consumables, 48 testing devices, 15,000 microcuvettes, and the training of 48 health workers to ensure proper implementation and monitoring. Importantly, each pregnant woman received a bottle containing 180 MMS tablets, which is sufficient for a six-month supplementation period.
Strategic Recommendations for Sustainable Implementation
Based on research findings by Evidence Action, Edeh offered several key recommendations to the state government. She advised retaining the 180-tablet MMS supply for each pregnant woman, maintaining the current distribution model, and sustaining reinforced training and supervision as primary methods for improving testing and treatment rates.
Edeh also charged the state government to address existing gaps in the supply chain in preparation for the MMS scale-up. She recommended utilizing the Child Nutrition Fund and Hope PHCN Financing as procurement pathways and developing a long-term financing model to ensure the programme's sustainability and effectiveness.
Government Commitments and Additional Interventions
Earlier, Mrs. Shakirat Ajuwon, the Assistant State Nutrition Officer, confirmed that MMS is now being distributed to pregnant women in health facilities across all 33 local government areas. This distribution aligns perfectly with the state's transition agenda from IFAS to MMS.
She added that the Oyo State Government contributed $150,000 to the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund to procure essential nutritional commodities. Furthermore, the production of high-grade soy flour is actively ongoing at the Oni Memorial Children's Hospital in Ibadan, among other targeted interventions aimed at bolstering maternal and child health.
Emphasis on Accountability and System Strengthening
In his remarks, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, emphasized the critical importance of accountability and system strengthening in healthcare delivery. Olatunji stated, "We are making so much investment into the health system, especially at the primary care level. But if care is not taken, no matter how much investment we're making, if it's not properly monitored and supervised, they might just go down the drain."
He elaborated on the state's strategy, saying, "So part of the thing we're trying to do now as one of the ways of system strengthening is to improve on our supervisory activities. We are designing something we call integrated support supervision now. That is not only for only one programme, but all programmes across boards in the primary care sector. And we are going to be mobilising some of our senior officers on to the field to monitor what our personnel are doing."
This comprehensive $500 million partnership between Oyo State, UNICEF, and Evidence Action represents a monumental step forward in public health investment. By focusing on evidence-based nutritional interventions, rigorous monitoring, and sustainable financing models, the initiative aims to create a lasting positive impact on maternal and infant health outcomes across Oyo State.
