Maternal Mortality: MMS tackling scourge – Bauchi women testify

 

Some women in Bauchi state have testified that the introduction of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) during antenatal care was a life saving medication reducing maternal mortality rate in the state.

Some of the women spoke with newsmen on Monday while the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office led some journalists to observe the level of acceptance and testimonies from them.

According to them, the intake of the MMS has eliminated all sorts of fatigue, weaknesses and sickness that accompanied pregnancy making them feel less worried about the delivery day.

A 26-year old Maryam Musa with nine months pregnancy, who explained that she initially felt reluctant taking the MMS drug due to its size and colour, said the acceptance of the drugs had greatly helped her and the pregnancy.

“This is my first time having a baby and I’ve been taking MMS along with folic acid but the MMS is very effective because before I started using, I did fall sick but after the medication everything stopped.

“I can feel the baby moving in my belly and I do all my house chores myself and I’m calling on all pregnant women to register for antenatal care because it’s very important to you as a mother and the baby,” she said.

She advised women who collect money from their husband, lying that the drugs were sold to them to desist, adding that their well-being and that of their baby should be their top priority.

Also, a first time physically challenged pregnant woman, Khadija Mai-Auduga who spoke through an interpreter, said even since she started taking the Multiple Micronutrient Supplements twice daily as prescribed, she hadn’t complained of anything so far.

Mai-Auduga, who explained that her husband is also physically challenged, said he has been supportive of her antenatal care and the intake of the MMS because they wanted to have a healthy child.

A mother of six Aisha Usman who acknowledged that she hadn’t taken the MMS before except during her last birth, said the baby came out differently from others.

“I’ve never taken the MMS drugs until this last baby and I really enjoyed myself. The baby came out differently from the rest of the children. She is very healthy .

“I’m calling on all pregnant women to be taking that MMS because it’s very important for you, the mother and the baby.

“In fact the last one I had was a stillborn baby because I didn’t take any drug but this one came with no complication at all thanks to the MMS,” she said.

Auwa Adamu, Head of facility,
Primary Healthcare Centre Kofar Ran, also referred to as Urban Maternity explained that those pregnant women without a trace of anemia were administered MMS only.

“For those that have mild and moderate anemia, we give them the MMS plus the folic acid while we normally refer those with severe anemia for further management,” said Adamu.

She said that the impact of MMS has been excellent as mothers have been looking more healthier and the babies delivered at the centre have been looking healthier as well.

Speaking with newsmen, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BSPHDB) said the MMS contained 13 mineral elements plus two folic acids geared to ensure that mothers got all the energy, vitality, and supplements needed for herself and her baby.

These supplements, he said, are capable of reducing maternal mortality, anemia which is also one of the causes of maternal mortality.

Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said that 134,280 bottles of MMS were provided to Bauchi State through UNICEF as part of the scale-up with support from the Kirk Foundation and training of the Health and community workers by Gates Foundation.

She added that UNICEF would continue to ensure that MMS is integrated into routine antenatal care, train frontline health workers and supervisors on counselling, side-effect management and adherence support.