KIGALI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan Ministry of Health and UNICEF have launched an initiative aimed at addressing malnutrition among pregnant women in the country by ensuring that they have access to a diverse range of nutrients.
The Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) program, launched in Ngororero district in western Rwanda, will be initiated in five districts, aimed to break all the challenges including intergenerational cycle of malnutrition as a key component of antenatal care program, health officials said in a statement Thursday.
Under the program, pregnant women will be given Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation, containing 15 essential vitamins and minerals, including iron and folic acid instead of traditional iron-folic acid supplementation.
"Improving maternal nutrition and providing multiple micronutrient supplementation to pregnant women can help accelerate the reduction of stunting in children. This approach makes sense since a mother's nutritional status during pregnancy can have a significant impact on the growth and development of her child," Rwandan Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana said in the statement.
"This program will help accelerate the reduction of stunting among children. By ensuring that expectant mothers have access to a diverse range of nutrients, we can give children a better chance at reaching their full potential and leading healthy lives," he added.
Julianna Lindsey, UNICEF Rwanda Country Representative, said prioritizing robust maternal nutrition is pivotal in breaking the cycle of undernutrition and securing the lasting well-being of mothers and their children.
It is hoped that the program will lead to improved maternal nutrition, reduced anemia, cases of low birth weight, preterm births, infant mortality, and stillbirths, according to officials.
The program emphasizes the significance of maternal nutrition, MMS utilization, and early pregnancy care. It is in line with the country's broader goal of reducing stunting during the first 1,000 days of a child's life.
Stunting in Rwanda stands at 33 percent in under-five years of children while the maternal mortality rate is at 203 per 100,000 births, according to official data. ■
