PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) of the Republic of Indonesia officially launched the national Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) program for pregnant women in Bandung City.

The MMS program aims to reduce maternal mortality rates (MMR) by preventing anemia, as well as reducing the risk of premature birth, low birth weight (LBW), and stunting.

MMS is a multivitamin supplement that contains more micronutrients than conventional iron tablets (TTD).

This supplement includes 13 nutrients, such as iron, folic acid, vitamins, and minerals, designed to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women. The provision of MMS is expected to reduce the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women which is still quite high, namely 27 percent.

Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin said, consuming MMS during 180 days or 6 months of pregnancy can improve the health of the mother and child.

"If we want our children to be healthy and smart, drinking MMS during pregnancy, God willing, can achieve this," he said during the launch in the yard of SMA Negeri 27, Bandung City (10/17/2024).

He highlighted nutritional issues as a major challenge, including anemia and chronic energy deficiency in pregnant women, which have a direct impact on infant and child health.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Public Health of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi explained that research since 2008 has shown that MMS can reduce infant mortality by up to 18 percent and LBW by up to 14 percent.

MMS is now recognized as part of the WHO essential medicines list since 2021. This year the program will be implemented in 15 provinces and 209 districts in Indonesia, especially in areas with high stunting and LBW rates, including West Java.

Responding to this, the Acting Mayor of Bandung, A. Koswara, who was also present at the event, expressed his appreciation for the selection of Bandung City as the location for launching this national program.

He said the presence of MMS is very important in improving the quality of maternal and child health, as part of efforts to overcome stunting.

"In addition to providing MMS, we also hold training in providing additional food based on local food for pregnant women with chronic energy deficiency (KEK) and toddlers with malnutrition," he said.

According to him, the launch of the MMS program will have a significant impact on improving health standards in the city of Bandung.

"We are committed to making this program a momentum to strengthen maternal and child health strategies to be more effective and efficient, in order to prepare a healthier generation for Indonesia Emas 2024," he said.

In the same place, the Acting Governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, emphasized the importance of educating the public about maternal and child health.

"MMS is an addition to meet nutritional needs, but it must still be balanced with a nutritious diet. We hope this program will bring significant changes to the quality of health in West Java," he said. (Bandung City Communication and Information Service/Fauziah)