Over 200 million pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not get proper nutrition or enough micronutrients, leading to a devastating impact on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. These women are at greater risk of death from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, and their babies are often born too small and too soon.

Our solution was to advance Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) – a 15-vitamin-and-mineral supplement – through clinical studies, project implementation, and advocacy.

Today, our work has generated compelling evidence that MMS improves birth weight and survival rates in infancy. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends MMS and has included it on its Essential Medicine List. LMICs are eager for guidance on how to safely and affordably offer MMS supplementation during pregnancy – 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are now testing MMS. Philanthropic investments to manufacture in Africa and Asia are ensuring an equitable supply of MMS.

We are also piloting an innovative business model through pharmacies in Bangladesh to ensure accessibility – in 1 year alone, over 15 million affordable, high-quality, locally-produced MMS units were purchased, impacting 200,000 mothers and babies.