Groundbreaking Clinical Trial Launched to Advance Maternal Nutrition in South Africa
30 July 2026
Johannesburg, South Africa – 29 July 2026 – South Africa has taken an important step towards strengthening maternal and newborn health with the official launch of a landmark study that will investigate whether Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) can improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, especially in poorer communities with high rates of food insecurity.
MMS is a single tablet with an effective combination of vitamins and minerals, replacing iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements currently being provided to pregnant women through public health channels in the country.
The clinical trial was officially launched on Wednesday, 29 July at the Wits RHI Shandukani Clinical Research Site in Johannesburg, bringing together representatives from the National Department of Health, academia, healthcare providers, regulatory authorities, development partners and civil society organisations.
Poor maternal malnutrition remains a significant public health challenge in South Africa, contributing to babies born with a low birth weight, premature births and other complications affecting both mothers and babies. Improving maternal nutrition is widely recognised as one of the most effective interventions for supporting healthier pregnancies and giving children the best possible start during the critical first 1000 days of life, starting at conception until the child’s second birthday.
The MMS SA 2025 Clinical Trial will evaluate the acceptability and adherence of UNIMMAP MMS compared with the current standard of care - IFA supplementation among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the Esselen Clinic, Hillbrow Community Health Centre and the HSB Hill Solomon Building – Wits RHI.
The research is expected to generate valuable local evidence that could help shape future maternal nutrition policies and antenatal care programmes while contributing to the growing global body of research supporting improved maternal health interventions.
The launch also marked the official commencement of participant recruitment and provided healthcare professionals, specialists, midwives and community leaders with detailed information on the study, participant eligibility, referral pathways and the rigorous ethical and scientific standards governing the trial
Throughout the event, delegates heard from leading experts on South Africa's maternal nutrition landscape, global developments in MMS and the importance of collaborative partnerships in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Ms Zandile Kubeka, Deputy Director: Dietetics, Child and Youth Health at the National Department of Health, highlighted the importance of strengthening maternal nutrition within South Africa's public health system.
Verona Witbooi, Country Programme Manager at Sight and Life Foundation, outlined the Foundation's global commitment to advancing maternal nutrition through evidence-based research. Sight and Life, an innovation and systems-transformation organisation working to end malnutrition and build resilient food systems, is supporting targeted maternal health research in South Africa through strategic partnerships focused on improving nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.
Witbooi said the study represents a significant milestone in building the local evidence needed to strengthen maternal healthcare.
"Every mother deserves the opportunity to give her baby the healthiest possible start to life. While global evidence increasingly supports improved maternal nutrition through Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation, South Africa needs robust local evidence to guide future policy and practice. This clinical trial is about investing in healthier pregnancies, healthier births and healthier futures for generations to come. Through strong partnerships and rigorous science, we have an opportunity to shape maternal healthcare in ways that could benefit women and children across the country."
Noxolo Gqada, Strategic Design and Integration Lead at Hold My Hand, shared practical examples of partnerships supporting maternal nutrition within the South African context, while Dr Elizea Horne, Senior Researcher at the Wits RHI Shandukani Clinical Research Site, presented the institute's vision and research history before outlining the MMS Roadmap, value chain situational analysis findings and the scientific design of the clinical trial.
Delegates also visited two antenatal clinics in Hillbrow where the trial is being implemented, providing stakeholders with first-hand insight into the study's operational environment and participant journey.
By generating robust local evidence, the MMS SA 2025 Clinical Trial has the potential to influence future maternal nutrition policy, strengthen antenatal care programmes and contribute to healthier pregnancies, healthier births and improved outcomes for mothers and children across South Africa.
The MMS SA 2025 Clinical Trial is led by Wits RHI in partnership with Sight and Life Foundation (SAL), DG Murray Trust (DGMT) and Hold My Hand (HMH) and supported by the Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).
About Sight and Life: Sight and Life is an innovation and systems-transformation organisation working to end malnutrition and build resilient food systems. Founded four decades ago on the belief that better evidence can improve lives, we bridge science, governments, markets and communities to turn nutrition research into solutions that reach people at scale. More info: www.sightandlife.org
About Wits RHI: Wits RHI is a globally recognised African health research institute based at the University of the Witwatersrand, delivering high-impact science to address some of the greatest public health concerns affecting the African region. With over 30 years of experience in investigator-led and consortia studies, Wits RHI excels in policy development and implementation across diverse populations and all phases of clinical trials. More info :https://wrhi.ac.za/
About DGMT: DGMT is a South African foundation built on endowments from Douglas and Eleanor Murray. As a public innovator through strategic investment, DGMT is committed to developing South Africa’s potential. To this end, DGMT has identified 10 opportunities to escape the inequality trap and build a thriving society. These opportunities span early childhood development, innovation amongst civil society organisations, youth development, preventing nutritional stunting and promoting literacy. More info: https://dgmt.co.za/
About Hold My Hand: Hold My Hand is a national communications and social mobilisation campaign in support of the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC). It drives an all of society approach to prioritising and improving the rights and wellbeing of South Africa’s children and teenagers. Find Hold My Hand on Instagram and the MMS policy brief here.
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