Aïssata Ouédraogo, 34, is expecting her third child. Seated alongside other pregnant women in a room at a primary health center in the Kombissiri health district, she is participating in an awareness session on nutrition during pregnancy, led by midwife Soulga Diane.
Shortly afterward, it is her turn to attend her prenatal consultation. Aïssata receives MMS, along with explanations on the importance of taking them every day, at the recommended dosage and without interruption.
For this mother of two, this pregnancy is different from her previous ones. She already knows the importance of prenatal consultations, but this is the first time she has received MMS.
“During my first two pregnancies, I was given other tablets, but not these. When the health workers explained that they contained several important nutrients for me and my baby, I decided to follow their advice.”
Today, Aïssata says she notices a difference.
“Since I started taking MMS, I feel less tired than during my previous pregnancies. I have more energy for my daily activities, and I feel reassured knowing that I am doing something good for my baby’s health.”
Like Aïssata, many women discover MMS during prenatal consultations organized in health centers supported by the ALIMA-KEOOGO-SOS Médecins BF Alliance.
Raising awareness to encourage daily use
Before receiving the supplements, pregnant women participate in awareness sessions led by healthcare workers. Using visual materials, Soulga Diane explains the importance of regular prenatal consultations, a balanced diet, and taking MMS every day throughout pregnancy.
“We explain to women that these tablets are important for their health, but also for their baby’s growth. When they understand their purpose, they take them more consistently.”
These sessions also create a space for women to ask questions and receive advice on good nutritional practices during pregnancy.
Fifteen micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, in a single tablet
MMS contain fifteen essential vitamins and minerals, including iron and folic acid. They help prevent anemia, support fetal development, and reduce certain pregnancy-related risks, including birth defects, premature births, and low birth weight.
“During pregnancy, a baby needs many nutrients to grow well. If the mother has deficiencies, both her health and the baby’s health may be affected. MMS provide these essential nutrients in a single tablet.”
Soulga Diane
In Burkina Faso, anemia still affects a large proportion of pregnant and breastfeeding women. According to Dr. Noufou Ouédraogo, the project coordinator, this situation highlights the need to strengthen nutritional supplementation during pregnancy.
“In Burkina Faso, six out of ten women suffer from anemia, a rate twice as high as the global average. In addition, only 15% of women of childbearing age have a diversified diet that meets WHO recommendations. It is in response to this reality that we are implementing this project, in support of the Ministry of Health, to help reduce maternal and newborn mortality.”
Dr Noufou Ouédraogo
MMS are recommended from the end of the first trimester of pregnancy and up to 42 days after childbirth, to ensure sufficient micronutrient intake during this crucial period for the health of both mother and child.
An approach that goes beyond tablets
Beyond distributing tablets, health teams support women throughout their pregnancy. During prenatal consultations, they receive nutritional advice, weight-gain monitoring, and information on breastfeeding. The project also places strong emphasis on community awareness. Radio programs, educational talks, and home visits are carried out by community health workers to encourage women to seek healthcare from the first months of pregnancy. In the health districts supported by the Alliance, on average, only three out of ten women attend prenatal consultations during the first trimester of pregnancy.
For Aïssata, this support is just as important as the supplements themselves.
“The awareness sessions helped me better understand nutritional needs during pregnancy. I also learned more about nutrition and how to care for the baby after birth.”
A project deployed across six health districts
Since November 2025, the ALIMA-KEOOGO-SOS Médecins BF Alliance has been supporting the Ministry of Health in introducing and expanding MMS. The project is being implemented in the health districts of Baskuy, Bogodogo, Nongr-Massom, Sig-Noghin, Boulmiougou, and Kombissiri.
To date:
- 177 health facilities are being supported
- 837 health workers have been trained
- 351 community relay health workers have been trained
- Over 281,000 people have been reached through awareness activities
- Around 9,646 pregnant women receive MMS supplementation for the first time every month
These results reflect the gradual rollout of MMS within health services, as well as local outreach efforts to better inform pregnant women, their families, and communities.
Building the future from pregnancy
In Burkina Faso, nutritional deficiencies continue to affect the health of women and children. By introducing MMS and strengthening health services, the project is helping improve maternal nutrition and giving newborns a better start in life.
Just a few weeks before giving birth, Aïssata continues taking her supplements with confidence. For her, this third pregnancy is also an opportunity to discover a new approach to maternal nutrition.
“If these tablets can help pregnant women and their babies stay healthy, I think it is important that all women in Burkina Faso should be able to benefit from them.”
In the districts supported by the project, each prenatal consultation also becomes a moment for information, prevention, and protection, for both mothers and their unborn children.
