MMS Premixes

  Introduction And Key Aspects of MMS Premixes

The introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) premixes, specifically the UNIMMAP (United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation) formulation, marks a significant shift from traditional Iron and Folic Acid (IFAS) supplementation to a more comprehensive prenatal nutrition approach. MMS contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals tailored to the increased nutritional needs of pregnancy.    

Improving antenatal care to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most pregnancies result in the birth of a healthy baby. But adverse pregnancy outcomes remain a global problem, particularly for women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Over 5,000 babies were stillborn at 28 weeks or more of gestation every day in 2021, which equates to 1.9 million babies stillborn in one year. In addition, a staggering 13.4 million babies were born preterm in 2020, with preterm birth also the leading cause of death among children under five years of age. There is an urgent unmet need to better support the health of mothers and babies during this critical time with antenatal interventions.  

To improve antenatal care and reduce the occurrence of early births and stillbirths, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a package of eight proven antenatal interventions. These include multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS), balanced protein and energy supplementation; low-dose aspirin; progesterone provided vaginally; education for smoking cessation; malaria prevention; treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria; and treatment of syphilis.